CIHM 
Microfiche 
Series 
(l\/lonographs) 


ICIVIH 

Collection  de 
microfiches 
(monographies) 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes  /  Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best  original 
copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this  copy  which 
may  be  bibliographically  unique,  which  may  alter  any  of 
the  images  in  the  reproduction,  or  which  may 
significantly  change  the  usual  method  of  filming  are 
checked  below. 


Coloured  covers  / 
Couverture  de  couleur 

Covers  damaged  / 
Couverture  endommag^ 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated  / 
Couverture  restaur^e  et/ou  pellicul^e 

Cover  title  missing  /  Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps  /  Cartes  g^ographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)  / 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations  / 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material  / 
Reli^  avec  d'autres  documents 

Only  edition  available  / 
Seule  Edition  disponible 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion  along 
interior  margin  /  La  reliure  serrte  peut  causer  de 
I'ombre  ou  de  la  distorsion  le  long  de  la  marge 
int^rieure. 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restorations  may  appear 
within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these  have  been 
omitted  from  filming  /  II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages 
blanches  ajout^es  lors  d'une  restauration 
apparaissent  dans  le  texte,  mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait 
possible,  ces  pages  n'ont  pas  6\6  filmies. 

Additional  comments  / 
Commentaires  suppl^mentaires: 


D 

D 

D 
D 

0 
0 
D 
D 
D 

D 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire  qu'il  lui  a 
6\6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details  de  cet  exem- 
plaire qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du  point  de  vue  bibli- 
ographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier  une  image  reproduite, 
ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une  modification  dans  la  m^tho- 
de  normale  de  filmage  sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 

I I  Coloured  pages  /  Pages  de  couleur 

I I   Pages  damaged  /  Pages  endommag6es 


D 


Pages  restored  and/or  laminated  / 
Pages  restaur^es  et/ou  pellicul^es 


0  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed  / 
Pages  d^olor^s,  tachet^es  ou  piqu^es 

I      I   Pages  detached  /  Pages  d6tach6es 

L/f  Showthrough  /  Transparence 

r~7  Quality  of  print  varies  / 


n 


Quality  in^gale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material  / 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppl^mentaire 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata  slips, 
tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to  ensure  the  best 
possible  image  /  Les  pages  totalement  ou 
partiellement  obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une 
pelure,  etc.,  ont  6t6  film^es  ^  nouveau  de  fa^on  k 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 

Opposing  pages  with  varying  colouration  or 
discolourations  are  filmed  twice  to  ensure  the  best 
possible  image  /  Les  pages  s'opposant  ayant  des 
colorations  variables  ou  des  decolorations  sont 
film^es  deux  fois  afin  d'obtenir  la  meilleure  image 
possible. 


D 


This  Ksm  is  fiimsd  at  the  rsduction  ratio  checlced  below  / 

Co  documont  ost  film*  au  taux  de  rMuction  indiqu*  ci-dessous. 


1 

lOx 

14x 

18x 

22x 

26x 

30x 

J 

12x 

16x 

20x 

24x 

28x 

32x 

Th*  copy  film«d  h«r«  has  b««n  r*produc«d  thanks 
to  tha  gansrosity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


L'axamplaira  film*  fut  raproduit  graca  i  la 
gAnirosit*  da: 

Bibliotheque  nationals  du  Canada 


Tha  imagas  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
possibia  considaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacificatiens. 


Original  copies  in  printed  papar  covars  ara  fllmad 
beginning  with  tha  front  cowar  and  ending  on 
tha  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  tha  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  tha 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Las  imagas  su(«sntas  ont  *t*  raproduitas  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin.  compta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattet*  da  Taxamplaira  filmi,  at  an 
conformity  avac  laa  conditions  du  contrat  da 
filmaga. 

Las  axemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couvanure  en 
papier  est  imprimae  sont  filmAs  en  commancant 
par  la  premier  plat  at  an  terminant  soit  par  la 
darniAre  page  qui  compone  une  emprainta 
d'imprassion  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  salon  la  eas.  Tous  las  autras  axemplaires 
originaux  sont  film*s  an  commancant  par  la 
pramiAre  page  qui  comporta  una  ampreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  at  tn  terminant  par 
la  darniAra  page  qui  comporta  una  talla 
emprainta. 


Tha  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  -^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  ara  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
darniAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — »  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  ▼  signifia  "FIN". 

Las  cartaa.  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  pauvant  atra 
filmis  A  das  taux  do  reduction  diff*rants. 
Lorsque  la  document  est  trop  grand  pour  atra 
raproduit  an  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  film*  i  partir 
de  Tangle  sup^rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  1  droita. 
at  da  haut  an  bas.  an  pranant  le  nombre 
d'imeges  nAcessaire.  Las  diagrammas  suivants 
lllustrent  la  mathods. 


1 

2 

3 

1  2  3 

456 


MiaOCOfY   RESOlUTIOi^   TIST  CHART 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


1^ 

■  2.8 

tim 

iil^H 

|U 

1^ 

13. 

Ih 

2.0 
1.8 


J    /APPLIED  IIVMGE    Inc 


1653  East  Main  Street 
Roctiester.   New   York        U609 
(716)  482  -  0300-  Phone 
(716)  288-  5989  -  Fo» 


USA 


-•j:  rC'C^    — tf- 


^ — & 


-^ 


e-f 


■^^-^ 


'^"isM  r- 


THE  VICTORS 


I  1,1.    T\KK    THIS    SHANTY    .TIST    AS    SUK    STANDS, 
SAID    THK    Jioss." — Pil^e  j^O. 


THE  VICTORS 

A    ROMANCE    OF    YKSIKKDAY 
M()RMN(;  ^    IHIS    Al  IKRNOON 


By      ROBERT      B  A  R  R 

A  I    T  H  {)  R     OK    "I  \      I    II  F     M   I   I)  s  T     OK     ALARMS," 
"rEKI.A,""A     WOMAN     1  N  T  K  R  V  K  N  E  S,"    ETC. 


To   the  I'utors  belong  the 
'poih.  — William  L.  Marcy 


NEW  rORK   .   FRKDKRKK    \.   STOKt  S 
COMPANY     .     PUBLISHERS 


If 


\I5 


Coi'VRiunr,  i()oi, 
BY  R(.)UKKT   liAKK. 

Col'VKUilll,   liJOI. 

BY  FREDERICK  A.  STOKES  COMPANY. 


i\ 


AN    EFFORT    AT    DEDICATION 


u      u^  S*"^^*  American  Novel,  so  frequently  referred  to 
by  the  Press,  will  be  looked  for  in  vain.     It  never  can 
be  written,  because  America  is  so  vast,  its  interests  are 
so    various,    its    activities    so    far-reaching,    that    even 
Honore  de  Balzac,  with  all  his  forty  or  sixty  volumes, 
could  have  done  little  more  than  draw  the  outlines  of 
such  a  civilisation,  had  he  been   born  a  citizen  of  the 
United  States  instead  of  a  citizen  of  France.     The  pres- 
ent volume,  then,  is  merely  a  slight  sketch  of  certain  in- 
cidents that  have  come  within  range  of  my  own  limited 
observation   and  experience.     It  has   been   written  and 
revised  during  the  past  five  years,  on  the  island  of  Man- 
hattan in   Eastern  America,  the  island  of  England  in 
Western  Europe,  the  island  of  Capri  in  Southern  Italy 
and  the  island  of  Islay  in  the  Highlands  of  Scotland. 
Working  on  these  islands.  I  have  attempted  to  depict   in 
a  measure.  certa_in  affairs  that  are  supposed  to  interest  a 
continent,    aspiring   to    be  the   accurate    reporter  which 
early  newspaper  discipline  exacted,  rather  than  the  ima?- 
inatiye  novelist,  so  deservedly  popular  in  our  day 

Whatever  difference  of  opinion  mav  exist  regarding 
various  American  institutions,  the  world  at  large  must 
admire  the  educational  system  of  the  United'  States 
Ihe  three  master  steps  of  learning.  Public  School.  High 
bchool,  and  University,  mav  be  mounted  bv  anv  ener- 
getic youth,  and  no  toll-gate  bars  his  wav.'  The  only 
^nbute  expected  from  him  is  diligence  and  good  con- 
It  is  my  ambition  to  associate  this  book  with  the  name 
of  the  University  of  Michigan,  near  whose  home  the 
story  s  action  begins.  I  must  add  in  fairness  to  the  Uni- 
versity that  such  Hitching  of  my  waggon  to  a  Star  is  en- 


VI 


An  Effort  at  Dedication 


ii 


tirely  unauthorised.  I  do  not  know  whether  the  permis- 
sion I  require  may  be  granted  by  the  I'residcnt,  or  the 
Regents,  or  the  Professors,  or  the  students  assembled 
in  mass  meeting  on  the  campus,  so  I  adopt  the  advice 
Pooh  Rah  gave  to  Ko-ko,  and  "  chance  it." 

The  driver  of  a  vehicle  frequently  applies  a  whip-lash 
to  the  impudent  small  boy  who  attaches  a  home-made 
waggonette  to  the  rear  axle,  and  if  the  University  repudi- 
ates this  volume,  my  voice  will  be  loudest  in  the  chorus 
of  condemnation.  I  shall  follow  the  example  of  Qiarles 
Lamb,  who  assisted  in  hissing  his  own  farce  off  the 
Drury  Lane  stage. 

Any  duly  authorised  protest  will  result  in  the  with- 
drawal of  this  inscription  from  future  editions,  but, 
so  far  as  the  first  issue  is  concerned.  "  The  \  ictors  "  is 
dedicated  to  the  L^niversity  of  ]^Iichigan,  which  has 
scattered  many  learned  men  over  the  vvorld,  some  of 
whom  I  am  privileged  to  number  among  my  dearest 
friends. 

Robert    Barr. 


liui 

\i    i 


COxNTENTS. 


mK)K  I. 

CLEARINC    KOK    A<  IKJN. 

CHAPTBR 

I.  "  Each  new-hatched,  unfledged  comrade  " .      ''^ 

II.  "  He'll  turn  your  current  in  a  ditih  "  ,„ 

HI.  "  I.et  me  buy  your  friendly  help  " ,(3 

IV.  "  I  have  flattered  a  lady  " 

V.  "  Doing  nothing  for  a  hribe  " ^3 

VI.  "  His  dishonesty  appears  " o 

VII.  "  Buy 'em  to  sell  again  " 

VIII.  "  I  and  my  partner  " j^^ 

IX.  "  Vou  charge  me  most  unjustly  " ,  ,§ 

X.  "  Rides  the  wild  mare  with  the  hoys  " ,  ,o 

XI.  "  They  are  thrifty,  honest  men" ,  r  , 

liOOK    II. 

THE   FOOT   OF    IHK   SI.Ol'K. 

I.  "  Journeys  end  in  lovers' meeting" ,5- 

II.  "  A  stranger  in  this  city  here  " ,3, 

III.  "  Mark  his  first  approach  before  my  lady  " ,nn 

IV.  "  I  sat  upon  a  promontory  and  heard  a  mermaid  " 216 

V,  "  First,  sir,  I  pray,  what  is  your  title  .'  " 225 

VI.  "  I  have  a  bag  of  money  here  that  troubles  me  " 23? 

VII.  "  My  surveyor  is  false  " 250 

VIII.  "  A  rare  engineer  " 257 

vii 


ill 


VHi  Contents. 

BOOK  III. 

BEGINNING   THE  GAME. 
CHAPTER 

!.  "  This  might  be  the  pate  of  a  politician  ". 


1 1.  •'  We  quariel  in  print  " 

IH.  "  But  he,  sir,  had  the  election  ". 
IV.  "  Sack  great  Rome  with  Romans 


BOOK  IV. 

THE   HIU.   OK   ENDEAVOUR. 

I.  "  That  were  a  trick  indeed  " 

11.  "  By  a  sealed  compact,  well  ratified  " 

III.  "  The  devil  shall  have  his  bargain  " 

IV.  "  Your  exposition  on  the  holy  text  " 

V.  "  When  did  you  lose  your  daughter."  " 

VI.  "  Give  me  leave  to  prove  you  a  fool " 

VII.  "  Fortune's  furious  fickle  wheel" 

VIII.  "  I  do  desire  some  confidence  " 

IX.  "  A  gracious  person  " 

X.  "  Her  hair  is  auburn  "...    

XI.  "  Sweet  husband,  be  not  of  that  mind  ". . . 

XII.  "  There  is  money;  spui.i  it  " 

XIII.  "  What,  wilt  thou  flout  me  thus .'  " 


BOOK  V. 

SPOILS   TO    THE    VICTORS. 

I.  "  They  are  so  linked  in  friendship  " 

II.  "  Fortune  and  victory  sit  on  thy  helm  ". 


PACK 

-■63 

274 
2S0 
298 


.     310 

353 
362 

363 
372 
381 
386 

393 
400 
408 


417 

426 

III.  "  Fire  that  severs  day  from  night ,,g 

IV.  "  God's  will !  what  wilfulness  is  this  ?  " 

V.  "  What  tell'st  thou  me  of  robbing .'  ". . 


444 


449 


Contents.  ix 

VI.  "  Turns  insurrection  to  religion  " ^cc 

VII.  "  And  sweet  religion  makes  a  rhapsody  of  words  " 464 

BOOK  VI. 

ON    TlIK    SUMMIT. 

I.  "  I  .im  come  to  fetch  you  home  " 4^2 

II.  "  Despatch  all  business  and  begone  " 484 

III.  "  Dashed  out  with  a  Grecian  club " 491 

IV.  "  To  leave  you  in  your  madness  " 500 

V.  "  Madam,  this  is  mere  distraction  " 506 

VI.  "  O  God  defend  me !  how  am  I  beset !  " 416 

VII.  "  Will  rain  hot  vengeance  on  offenders  " 523 

VIII.  "  Make  a  scarecrow  of  the  law  " 5=9 

IX.  "  Why,  then,  let's  home  again  " S4» 

X.  "  With  their  tongues  doom  n.jn  to  death  " 549 

XI.  "  From  Cupid's  shoulder  " 561 


4  '       '^  I 


!  - 


■  il  11 


13  p 

If 


THE  VICTORS 


BOOK  I 
CLKARING   FOR  ACTION 


CMAI'TER    I 

"each  new-hatch  El),  lxfledged  comrade" 

It  had  been  a  patiting  hot  dav ;  a  dav  wlicn  thore  who 
could    sou.crht   shelter  of   shade,   whilj   those   compelled 
to  work  stopped  often  and  shook  the  dripnin-  perspi- 
ration   from    their    brows.     The   heat    seemed  "to    hang 
quivering    m    the    air.    abatinf,^    vet  not    appearing    to 
abate ;  Mithras,  god  of  light,  the  cause  of  it  all,  burned 
red  in  the  west,  and,  like  an  impressionist  painter    reck- 
lessly  lavish   with  his  colours,   had   prodi-allv   splashed 
all  the  far  liorizon  with  o:old  and  crimson,  while  as  the 
sun   sank   still    lf)wer   behind   a   radiant   cloud   its    ravs 
were  flung:  into  the  sky  like  the   spokes  of  a  pifrantic 
wheel  of  jjlory;  or  if  the  sex  of  the  simile  be  chanj^ed 
and   Mithras  be  transformed  into  a  gfoddess.  this  deitv 
of  the  day  coqucttishly  prepared  to  leave  the  scene  of 
her   triumphs,    flirting    open    a    fan    of   dazzling   gossa- 
mer before  making  the  farewell  bow  and  quitting  for  the 
night  her  throne  in  the  heavens. 

Two  very  young  men  lay  prone  on  their  backs  in  a 
fence  corner.  The  grass  under  them  was  parched,  drv 
and  warm,  providing  a  comfoita!)lc  couch.  Straw' hat's 
with  broad  brims  somewhat  ragged  at  the  rim  con- 
cealed the  two  faces,  but  the  buzzing  flies  bothered 
the  boys,  who  sometimes  struck  out  wildlv  at  them 
hke  men  warding  oflF  danger  in  drowsiness.  If  a 
blow  of  this  kind  removed  the  hat,  its  owner  groped 


lit  ^' 


'  Tlic  \'ictors 

las'  'Shfd.ler'.r'.V."'';"  ''  "'"  ""'  '^"^  '>''''"■     At 
dM    mt    elder    at    the    two    rose    to    a  sittimr    .vwtMr.. 

ett.n,^  h.s  hat  sH.lo  t„  the  K^n.un.I.  ancl  ,  a    ed  hi         rt' 

fntdlur     V  I      ,  ''f  i"  '-•>>'^"-'^"t   face,  beaming  with 

tmisiasni.     A    young  man  witli    such  a    face  iniLWit    ho 
come    an.vth.ng-a    revivahst     preacher     wL   -"^  hrob" 
bniR:  vvonls  w<mld  sueep  thousan.Is  towan    renentance 
a  statesman  hc:<Iin,cr  '.nnpire  in  his  hancls;  a\S'  "e  nro" 
fessor    moMlchn,,    rhe    untra-ne.l    ambitions    of'^oun. 
men     a    pob  ,c,an.    perhaps;   a    speculator,    mavbe     Uu 
whatever    sphere    of   activitv    ,hc    future    rc'served    for 
him.  he  wouhi  be  an  enthusiast  aluavs    ever  bel tv  nL' 
fervent, V  ,n  lum.self  and  his  cause,  anc    vet  a  d  eam"^ 
too-there  lay  a  d.nn.^.or  to  Lis  success-a  dreamer  and 

of  pS^;^aIi;"V";?'"   ""^   ''\  '''"•   '''^'   ^^^^ 
oi  practicahtN.  to  transmute  the  al)stract  into  fbf>  .-^^i 

iNo  hues  marked  or  marred  his  smo-.^a  e    i    wa    as 

yet  an   unwritten   pa.^e;   but   there   trlowed   fn  m  iftbo 

^^Jun,  you  lazy  bc-crar.  .e^et  up  and  look  at  this  sun- 

Jim.    his    fin-crs    interlaced  behind    the    back  of    hi«5 
heacK    dul    not    move,    but    drowsilv    nn.nnur' d : 

.onpurt;;ue-^^^^^^^ 
.or!::s;ir';.k^U-^^ 

m^,  prochg.ously  at  the  risk  of  a  b^en-ia^a^^^ 

"  Fine   open   countenance     Tim  "   sai,l    ItJc     ,  t 

which  remark,  being  an  olcl  am^wel   worn  ^hrre'l^m 
ifiT.ored.  glanced  at  the  sunset  and  said      ^  ^^ 

Its  gomg  to  be  another  hot  dav  t,   morrow" 

Jim  s  eyes  speedily  fell  from  the  glowin-  sunset  to 
the  earth,  and  now,  in  spite  ut  the  hea?.  some%nergy  ,i- 


"  Kach  ncu'-hatclicd,  imflcd-cd  comrade  "     :< 
fused  itself  throiijrhout  his  lankv  frame      He  saw  mrt 

•Hack   there,   v.h,    f,>„i;  -  cried   Jim.   ju.npinjr  to   his 

you  re    a-jjoiiijr,    anyhow  ^ 


Thiiiukr.  you  made 


feet.     ••  Where    dye    think     >uu  n 
VVant  to  ^a-t  down  the  liili  aj^'ain  ^ 
fuss  enouj,'-Ii   comin-    vip." 

The  youn«-  man  ran  down  the  hill,  took  the  patient 
una^.st.n^  pony  hy  the  hri.lle.  n,ade  it  .lescrihe  T  en" -' 
crce  at  some  risk  of  upsettin.tr  the  wa;,^K^on.  led  the  an- 

m  r  „r;  the  sunset,  then  ^dvin^^  the  horse  a  heartv  slap 

in^  any  better  than  to  tro  foolin..^  down  that  hill  Ua^!'' 

I  tel  you  what   ]\l  like  to  see."  said   I'.en  is   Tim 

se^^Ued  Inmself  once  more  on  the  side  of  ?he  ditch.     "^" 

IJke    o  see  a  real  Italian  sunset.     ( )ne  of  them  must  h^ 

worth   a   voya.,e  across  the   Atlantic.''  "''  ^' 

VVcll,    I  ve    seen    Italian    labourers,    and    in    seein- 

hem  I  ve  had  all  I  want  of  Italy.     What  I'd  like    o  see 

no  p^ood.  lien.  There  s  no  mojicv  in  it  •  too  manv  in 
the  business  We're  not  ruined  b  -  Ch  nes  cl  ean 
^bot,r.  as  that  Western  fellow  said. 'but  we  mij^ht  as 
kntk'^ls  Jul''^^  ^"^"^'^  °^  ••^--'-"  ^"'--^  •abSll^r  t^ 
"  Do  you   know.  Jim.   I  think   where  we  have  made 

"steTcr of  1  •'"  ''u  "  ^'"""^^^^  ^^'"^^  '"  for  little  tit 
nstead  of  big.     It  ,s  just  as  easy  to  go  in  for  a  bS 
thing  as  for  a  small  one."  ^ 

"Meaning  profits,  do  you'" 

"Meaning  everything."   I   wish    I   had  gone  to   that 

college  1    the  liv.n        .penses.  and  we  could  have  lived 
as  cheaply  here  as  there.     Then  when  we  were  through 


M 

f 
1 

4  The  \*Kti)rs 

we  sl,„„|,l  l..,vr  had  v.„uil,in^'  :U  t!,c  |,.kK  -.f  „.,      Tlu- 

V.-'-I.'llTn"-  •^''^•'"y"'    '"^•^'"^    s..,nal.in,t^;    Stonnl,nro 

'lW^  "'*■'',''',  "';''''"^'    tn.    iniUs    fro.n    that    t.nvn. 

mat  >  uhat  I  ua>  r.frrriTi.tr  „,  uiu,.  I  said  that  if  vouVe 
tT.T^',  :.";  ■•'  ^'""•^'    ^^"  '■'"■  ^''^'  ''i^'^'^-'  <"■  tlK'  kir.l'lhaf. 

l!cn  s,..,k.  uith  the  discnnratrr.I  air  of  a  disappoint..! 
man  ol  tua.tv-o,K-.  who  ivahMs  uh.n  it  is  too  late  the 

c^^'1m-'V-'-"'"/'^"  ''^'^•^'^"-  iKfo;.  and 
rcim.v.  he  s.Knce  ,>t  the  other  sh.nved  tliat  he 
"o.  share<l    the    ^dooniy    f..rehodin,rs    of    l,is    conirad  ' 

t  '?;|^^"'  ;'"""  "-T  "'^f'-'-  '-vn  towar.I  the  in" 
sa,    Im     brow    vexed     uuh    the     ru,liin^^    of     passiu- 

hou^h  .  as  a  placid  lake  is  rippled  hy  a  sndd'  ciS 
rent    of    vvnul.      |  he    ^nm    pessiniisn.    of    vonth    over- 

had.nvnl  tl,e  two  lads,  an.l  the  possihi'itie.  of  the 
f  ture   were   as   eftectually   hidden    fro.n    them   as    wa, 

l.ci    had  w.she.I  Immeif  in  Italy,  too  ignorant  to  know 
a  .spread   ot,t  before  him   like  a   hannuet  of   visio,^ 

tnset  J^'-';'  ■""  ''''^^'  f  ''"'>■  ^'"^''''  ^'"^^^'-  ^vi.iie  th; 

sunset  u  as  a  .hsplay  of  chromatic  celestial  fire,  such  as 
joidd  he  seen  ,n  n„  country  hut  America,  outviein:,^  i„ 
lavish  splen.lour  the  r,  ,re  famous,  hut  not  more  Imr" 
ffcous.   sunsets  of  the  Orient.     The  phvsical  eve  of  t^ic 

mtnR  man  saw  the  picture.  Inu  his  niental  eVe  hd.eld 
the  stmset  of  Ins  nuat„nat,nn.  an.!  he  si.,d,e.l  for  Ital 

.In  the  unmediate  f..re-roun.I    lav  embowered  amids 
v.vul  Krccn  a  town  whose  luvelines's.  with  its  noivc   r 
mat.c    backK^rotmd.    seenud    n,ore    like   a      exc u^^er  tTd 

::n^"^X'lr'^r^     ^    ^"^"!"^'"     ''    'I"-'     --     V 

^r:Lrpi:\ri:^\sir:-at' l;^;''u/"'"^ 

buildings.  ,ivin,  the  ef  c^^^  ^wUt  en;  "3 
;^;^^r:'---'-^-^^'V'-^n  square  pi.esupporti.^"^ 
Pet 


cr's,  in  Rome,  projected 


)re  a   strikinj,'    resemblance  to    St 


wings,  giving  to  the  wli 


|>n  either  side,  the  cojleirp 


ole  edifice  a  stately  and  dignified 


"  Kiicl.  new-hatched,  imfleil-cd  comrade  "     5 

appearance.     \'arioMs  .K.partme„ts  „f  scl,„larlv  activity 
cr.  hoMse.I  ,„  structures  that   f..r,„o.|  a  clu    er  r    ,  d 

::•:;;;  x;.;x-r:it-it^  •:;..  ,--£S 
;.^  could  s.s^rn./ct.;;;::^i^^ 

•loesnt   M>  nu.cli   matte-    where   vou   ^-et   it      Six  times 

aoderm'ir'^'   •'"'-,■'""  '"  ^''^  university  as  it    s  i   T 
aea.kni).     It  ,sn  i  where  yc.u  come  from'  hut  wh-it  v,  m 

ca.wlo.  now  that  youVe  left  there:  that's  dle'l:^^^^^ 

-no  you  mean  to  hold  t'lat  a  diploma  from  Yale  is 
'.V   'setter  than   a   certificate   from   Stormhoro?"  asked 


J?en. 


r    tl 


don'no.     Let's 


1  ,  ^'     '"*"''     test     it.     I'm     treftincr 

uu.ury.  and  we  haven't  made  enou^d,  mon  n   to-^1      ,7 

no-   one    square   meal.     Let's   whip^,p   .,"  'Tr  .on h   s 

here  and  journey  to  th.  farml,ouse.     I'll  te  1  'emC '  .' 

a    \a!e    man    and  tha.    I'm  from    Stormhoro   and    we'll 

(1.1(1  out  whether  you  fare  better  than  I  do  " 

H.r.'      T''  ^''K'''  ^''"'"'^  nonsense,  and  you  know  it 
I  ere  s   what  confronts  us.     We've  spent   fiur   verrl  at 

means,    1    take   ,t,    that    we    have    learned   all    thev   can 

'•ach  us.      Ihc  certificate  we  have  received  is  a  sort  of 

h';.v. ';  .  -■'^!''  , '"""'  ^'"'y  P^'''  t^'  the  school.     We 

are   ve'Ltrin  7'^  ''If  ^".V-'-'SC  the  question  is  wha? 
are  we  Romgf  to  do  with  it. 

"  Which  ?     The  receipt  or  the  knowledge  ?  " 

Len    ijrnored    this    flippant    question,    and    the    other 

'o  wander'"^  •''  ''''  '"■■"''  ^^'^'^^^  ^^owed  an  indina  ion 
to  wander  again,  went  on. 


11  111 


-li 


6  The  Victors 

J'7^^1  ^°"\  l^'°  '''^"''  ^°  '■^8^''^t  'le  ^^'as  not  allowed  to 
go   to   Ann   Arbor   college,    probably   having   yearnings 
to   come  out  as    the  educated    horse  in  a   circus      WeH 
srheme?'''°"'°"'''"^"^-     «"^  ^^^^^  it.     Got'anothe; 

''  I've  got  a  hundred  of  them." 

"  Yes    I  know,  but  I  want  only  one.  and  I'd  like  that 
one    to    be    workable     Four    weeks    ago.    accordt^g'" 

round     1         I,'""    nnicli     besides.     We   would    travel 
round  the  world  and  sco  thin"-s." 
"  And  don't   we? ''  '^ 

,-n  [u'^^'y    ^^ ""  '''^'"''  *°  accumulate  health  and  strength 
rollt'etZs!""^""  '"■  "^'''  ''''  confinement  in  stuffy 

"Well,   don't   we?" 

"  After    havmg    filled    ourselves    full    of    theoretical 

"Don't  we?" 

"Yes,  we  get  the  opinions  of  farmers  on  the  ^reat 
tramp  question  when  we  ask  for  something  to^eaf 
but  their  opm.ons  have  a  certain  monotony ;  they  are 
all  m  agreement    that    the  dogs    should  be    set  on    us 

sJ^a^lTr'  '^  "''^'  ^^'''  ^'''  ''''''■  °"  evervthing  we 
JJoesn  t  It.''    and  1 11  answer  you  " 

wronTbi^sV'  "'•  ^'"'  '"  ^^"'^"'"^^  '^"^•"^^^  '^  -  t'- 

"  You  bet  it  is !  " 

"Hold  on  a  minute.  We  .should  offer  the  people  a 
better  article  at  a  cheaper  price  than  they  can  ^et  else- 

"  Impossible   combination,    Ben." 

"Xot  at  all.  This  trade  simply  wants  to  be  revo- 
lutionised from  the  top.  and  we.  unfortunately  Tc 
workmg  away  at  the  bottom.  There  are  too  many 
midd  emen  s  profits  before  the  goods  get  to  us  "  ' 

Why,  hang  it  all.   Ben.  we're  middlemen  ourselves 
mighty  dam  middlin'^.  too,  I  think."  ""' reives, 


"  Each  ncvv.lmtched,  unfledged  comrade  "  7 
.^^li^'Jl^sZoi:^-""'''  "^  """Sing  .he 
produce  T:C  ropIe-s"oorI"%'rT','^'''=  *- 

IT  ^zs.  "€  r  F-^y^  - " - 

,;ii.        f  >^"  might  do  some  business.  The  man  at  th^ 

sooner  „e  reco^f  .'"at  ...e  iTIiU'V  "riosT"  Z 

can  Hose  money,  because  wc  haven',  ™,  it  '•  ' 

Ini    other   fellows   make  moncv.     I   don't   like  the 

'^t^^T';^^^  "■'■™  "-=  "^  ™-  'n'ti^ut 

.o'hi:^  «rto"a°;i.-V^  Tl  :s.:d"t 

earn    money   a.  this   trade.     What's  the   use   of   ntad 

"^    up  t  e    hill  m    such    a  hurry?     A    pedlar    too     T'll 
bet  a  dollar;   let's   ask   him  how   he  wo^rks   the  oVie 

S  e  cf  felfon't  r'  r"'"  "'",^  ^''  °""^  ^^  ^is  back  " 

ouence  tell  on  the  two  comrades  and  partners  as  thr. 

newcomer  approached.     The  sun  had  set    hnf       i 

ous  twilight  held  the  lan.l.  ancl  th     new  br      e  b  oTX' 

real'  'ir""^,  ""'  ''''  "'•^'^^'^  -°^"--^  rather%rn  fhe 

sneaking    <^u  '     ^'°'   -^^    '^''   P^^'^^'"'    '"omSit    of 

"  We^are    -VnT  'T'  '"  ^'^'  T^'^"'"^  ''"^'  'oo?" 
and^^^h^^^rU-^^^^^^ 
as  a  residence,  nn  v   T   don't  lil-,.   tu^    -       i   '    """^'"fi; 
wants  .0  put  a  balcony  rtnd  ItW'.her^e'ruut'^uch 


if  » 


i' 

i 

'  9 

s 

'  a 

i- 

1 

•!? 

1 

8 


Tlie  Victors 


a  good  view.  Not  being  able  to  agree  on  the  subject, 
here  we  sit  discussing  the  matter." 

The  stnlwart  man  unslung  the  pack  that  was  strapped 
over  his  shoulders  and  placed  it  on  the  ground,  taking 
no  notice  of  Jim's  raillery.  It  was  evident  that  some- 
thing more  serious  occupied  his  thoughts. 

"  Say,  have  youse  got  a  licence?  "' 

"For  peddling.'  Certainly.  We've  got  all  the  mod- 
ern improvements,  except  the  knack  of  selling  our  wares." 

^'  Say,  let's  have  a  look  at  it." 

"  What:  Are  you  an  insjjector  disguised  as  one  of  the 
fraternity?" 

"  I'm  a  pedlar  all  right  enough,  but  I  never  ^  1  a  li- 
cence, and  they  tell  me  I  must  get  one.     Ever  Ix       asked 

for  it  ?  " 

"  Oh,  often,  but  never  by  another  pedlar." 

"  Let's  have  a  look  at  it." 

Ben.  who  had  the  document  in  question,  took  it  out  of 
an  inside  pocket  and  handed  it  to  the  stranger  who 
glanced  over  the  paper,  then  looked  inquiringly  at  Tim 

"^  our  name  McAllister?" 

Jim  threw  his  thumb  in  the  direction  of  his  comrade. 

"  IMy  friend's  name's  McAllister.  I'm  the  silent  part- 
ner. '  * 

"  Thanks,"  said  the  stranger.  cooUv  folding  up  the  li- 
cence again ;  but  instead  of  handing  it  back  to  its  owner 
he  put  it  in  one  of  his  own  pockets. 

"  Xow.^wliat  do  you  mean  by  that?"  demanded  Jim. 
Oh,  it  s  all  right,  fellers  ;  I  want  to  borrow  it  for  a  lit- 
lle.  so  that  I  can  rest  with  a  mind  at  ease.  They've 
chased  nie  all  over  town,  and  I'm  about  tired  it  I 
thought  T  was  going  to  get  awav  from  the  curse.l  place 
by  doubling  on  them  and  making  for  the  depot,  but  there 
wasn  t  a  train  for  two  hours  going  anywhere,  so  I  had 
to  make  a  circuit,  and  take  to  the  woods." 

"  That's  all  very  well,  but  if  the  authorities  come  down 
on  you  for  your  licence,  and  you  show  ours,  what's  to  be- 
come of  us  when  we  are  questioned?  If  thev  comethus 
far  after  you.  they  are  sure  to  demand  our  papers." 

"  Is  that  your  rig?" 


"  Each  new-hatched,  unfledged  comrade"     9 

"  Yes." 

"  Very  well,  it  will  he  mine  until  later.  You  are 
merely  two  student.s  come  up  f6r  a  breath  of  air  from 
your  hoardm-  hou.se.  See?  I'm  the  onlv  pedlar  in  this 
outht.     Sec?     I  heheve  that's  no  lie.  either  " 

Sayin-  this,  the  pedlar  rose,  luicd  his  pack,  and  flinjr- 
in-  It  over  the  tail]H)anl  of  the  li^ht  waf,-i,ron.  spoke  sooth- 
m.y:ly  to  the  horse,  which  had  lifted  its  head  and  pricke.l 
up  Its  ears  Then  he  returned  to  the  ditch  and  sat  down 
a,t,-am.  pulhni,-  out  a  pipe  as  he  did  .so. 

"\\ell.  stran-er,"  said  Jim.  "for  square  downright 
cheek  I  never  saw  that  equalled !  Never!  You  first  take 
our  licence,  then  you  appropriate  our  horse  and  waijeon 
without  even  sayin-  '  I!y  your  leave.'  I  don't  want  to 
tatter  you  but  for  brazen  impudence  I  think  you  beat 
the  record. 

"  Thanks.  It's  no  flattery.  Still,  I  am  delighted  to 
thmk  we  understand  each  other.  Xow,  if  an  official 
comes  I  should  he  pleased  if  vou  will  let  me  do  the  Ivintj 
J  m  an  expert,  and  you  amateurs  will  merely  bundle  the 
matter.     I  ask  this  as  a  favour." 

"  \  ery  well.     The  momi-t  he  comes  we  will  :  tick  to  the 
truth   and  tell  Inm  we  ar^-  i.ot  students  at  the  universitv 
but  pedlars,  and  that  you  have  stolen  our  licence  " 
"Oh,  no  you  won't.     Truth  can  be  carried  to  excess 
like  everythm,.,   else.     You   understand   mv  plan.     Now 
will  you  fall  in  with  it.  or  won't  vou.  that's  the  question^ 
If  you  wont  just  say  so  like  men,  and  then  I'll  lick  vou 
both  and  have  it  over." 

Jim  rose  at  this  with  clenched  fist,  indijrnant ;  the  chal- 
lenger did  not  move  from  his  i)lace,  but  looked  lowerins? 
at  him  across  the  shallow  ditch,  evidentlv  on  the  alert 
should  the  other  mean  business.  P.en.  however,  held  up 
his  hand   and  addressed  his  comrade. 

"Jim.  what's  the  matter  with  vou?  This  man  Is  in  the 
s-ime  line  as  ourselves ;  like  us  he's  a  stransrcr  in  a  strange 
land,  aufl  if  he's  111  trouble  and  we  can  help  him  we're 
goin'T  to  do  it." 

"McAlli'^tcr.  you're  a  wliite  man ;  shake!  "said  the 
stranger,  suddenly  projecting  his  powerful  paw  acros,s 


i^B^ 


10 


The  Victors 


the  ditch.  They  shook,  and  Jim  sat  down  a^ain,  grumb- 
hng  that  this  was  all  very  well,  but  tliev  would  get  them- 
selves into  trouble,  and  anyhow  he  "did  not  like  the 
stranger's  method  of  asking  for  assistance.  The  stranger 
took  a  jackknife  from  his  trousers  pocket,  picked  up  a 
bit  of  stick  that  had  been  stranded  on  the  bank  when  the 
dry  ditch  was  in  flood,  began  shaping  it  to  a  point  with 
long  strokes  of  the  blade.  ta])cring  it  at  last  with  minute 
care,  as  if  it  were  intended  for  some  particular  purpose 
which  it  was  not. 

The  silence  that  fell  upon  the  group  after  peace  had 
been  so  nearly  broken  was  at  last  disturbed  by  the  dis- 
tant whirr  of  buggy  wheels,  like  the  murmur  f  some 
gigantic  insect  in  the  still  summer  evening.  Th.-  vehicle 
came  in  sight  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  and  rapidlv  began  to 
ascend.  "  It's  a  shame  to  push  a  horse  up  a  hill  like 
that,  said  the  big  pedlar,  glancing  towards  the  approach- 
ing conveyance,  which  contained  two  persons.  "  I  ex- 
pect they  know  Tve  taken  to  the  countrv,  and  a  man  in  a 
bugg>^  will  be  searching  all  the  roads  that  lead  out  of  Ann 
Arbor. 

The  horse  was  pulled  up  sharplv  at  the  brow  of  the 
hill,  and  a  dapper  man   sprang  nimblv  to  the  ground 
Ihe  big  pedlar  was  carefully  and  laboriously  rounding 
the  end  of  the  stick,  which  under  the  deft  manipulations 
of  the  blade  had  taken  on  somewhat  the  shape  of  a  sti- 
letto without  the  cross  bar.     He  seemed  to  have  no  cu- 
riosity regarding  the  advent  of  tlie  carriage  passen^rer 
his  whole  attention  being  occupied  bv  the  cabinet  work 
in    hand.     His   knife   was   marvellouslv   sharp    and   cut 
through    the    aromatic    Michigan    pine    as    if    it    were 
cheese. 

"  ^'ou   were  peddling  in   town   this  afternoon,   I   be- 
lieve?" said  the  dapper  man  advancing 
"Who?    Me?"  ^ 

''Yes.     Do  you  deny  it?" 
''  VVouldti't  think  of  contradicting  a  gentleman." 

!!  ^Y-^^^'J.'/'  J"""*   ''^^'  ^°  ^''^"  >■""'■  li'^ence,  if  you  please  " 
Mine? 

"  Yes.  yours— if  you  have  one." 


m'^rM- 


"  Each  new-hatched,  unfledged  comrade  "    ii 
"  Licence  for  what  ?    I  don't  sell  no  liquor  " 
duce    '  ""*^^  ^oj"  peddling— you  know  what  1  mean.    Pro- 

"  Oh,  you  want  to  see  it." 

''  Yes,  I  do." 

"  You  want  to  see  the  licence  " 

''  Yes,  sir." 

"  Afy  licence." 

''  Cei.tnlV  ^°"'^^^^"^ ;«  ^tay  here  all  night  either." 

fnn  St  ,  ^n  °*\  S'"^'"^>'  ""^-  ^^^^  '^'^  "ice  up  here  on 
top  of  he  Inll.  And  say  Ann  Arbor's  a  nice  town,  isn'" 
It?  ^lce  people  there,  I  should  judge.  So  these  uni- 
versity students  tell  me." 

•'Look  here,  my  man;  Fm  not  here  to  discuss  the  town 

a  m?nT?  ',  °^  ^""  ^^'■^"'■-    ^^'^  >°"  «^«P  whittlinr 
a  mmute  and  give  me  your  attention.?   If  you've  got  a  u- 

cence,  I  want  to  see  it ;  if  you  haven't,  I  must  trouble  you 
to  come  back  with  me.  ^ 

"In  the  buggy?     It   won't  hold  three  very  handily 
These  side  bars  have  such  awfully  narrow  boxe  iV 

I  Diiaetori  ^^  'T'-  J'^'^'y  ""^^  ''y'^  ^bout  -em  than 
a  phaeton,  although  a  phaeton's  comfortable.  But  a  com- 
bination of  a  good  trotter  and  a  light  side  bar's  hard  To 

apoearancJ  "tw"  'T^  ""'  ^""^  ^^"^^^^  ^^'^^  and  nattv 
P.^Av^f         ^'"^  ^  ^'"'^'■y  "S.  or  your  own?" 

VVi  1  you  walk  down  town  with  me  peaceably    or 
shall  I  have  to  arrest  you  ?  "  - ' 

"  Oh,  thanks,  but  Fm  not  -oing  down  town      Seen  all 

buTS'l  ^.ot^a^  •'"^'  this  aftern^oon:  ratheTin  a  hurr 
but  St  11  I  got  a  very  good  idea  of  its  layout.     Nice  place 

didn't     r     '  ''"  "  ^'""-^  '"  '^"^  -^••^°'-=  ^°  help  me    I 
didn  t.    Give  you  my  word  of  honour  as  a  gentleman  1 
d.dn  t     Oath  on  a  sfack  of  Bible.  I  didn't." 
Iha^  makes  no  difference.     You  tried  to" 

''  Is  that  the  law  ?  " 

;;  That's  the  law.  and  I  ask  you  to  respect  it." 
un,  ido.    Im  a  law-abiding  citizen,  I  am.     What 
wou  d  we  be  without  the  law?    Anarchists,  that's  what 
IV       u        J  ^  '"^'P^'^^  tiie  guardians  of  the  law    too 
Always  have  done  so.    I'm  a  stickler  for  law." 


12 


The  X'ictors 


"  I'm  very  .qlad  to  lii-.r  it.  Will  you  show  inc  v(nir 
lict'iicc  or  walk  down  town  with  mc?" 

"  I  (l(jn't  have  to  walk.  That's  my  rv^  there.  I'd  bet- 
ter drive  cU)wn  with  vou." 

'■  \  ery  well,  come  alont;.  Where  was  that  horse  and 
wapj^on  when  you  were  ped<lling  in  town  to-dav.'" 

"  i'ryins  •*'  peddle,  you  mean.  Oil,  I  always  leave  my 
horse  out  in  the  eountry  and  take  in  a  shoulder  pack  with 
me.  Saves  any  amount  of  trouble,  for  tliat  horse  is  apt  lo 
be  a  l.it  lively  on  the  streets,  as  you  can  very  well  see. 
There's  a  bit  of  blood  in  that  horse,  althou.iL,di  you  mif^ht 
not  think  so.  Pure  Kentucky  stock:  bou,t,dit  him  in  Lex- 
in.qton.     You  see  by  the  shape  of  him  that — " 

"  I  can't  talk  here  all  ni.c^hi.  you  know." 

"You  don't  need  t(x  I'm  always  willinj^  tn  do  the 
talking-  in  whatever  company  1  am.  Sorrv  I  can't  offer 
you  a  drink ;  liowever.  we  can  t::et  that  in  the  villajje." 

The  yoUiijj  man  rose  slowly  to  his  feet,  stretched  him- 
self lazily  and  yawned,  brin.i^ing^  down  his  arms  with  a 
resoundinef  slap  ag-ainst  his  sides  and  thiq-bs. 

"  Come,  now.  have  you  got  any  licence  ?  "  asked  th^ 
ofificial. 

"  Have  I  ?  Well,  now  what  kind  of  licence  did  you 
want,  state,  town  or  county?" 

"  Any  (jne  of  the  three  will  do." 

"  Oh,  that's  good.  Nowyou've  asked  a  number  of  ques- 
tions about  me.  Suppose  I  ask  some  about  you.  You'ro 
an  inspector  of  licences,  you  tell  me.  State  of  Michigan, 
county  of  Washtenaw  or  town  of  Ann  Ar])or?  " 

"  Town  of  .Ann  .Arbor,  where  you  were  peddling." 

"Trying  to  peddle.  IVrhaps  you  think  I  haven't  got 
a  licence  ?  " 

"  I  know  you  haven't.  I've  h.eard  of  you  before,  and 
we've  been  laying  for  you.  and  now  we've  got  you." 

"  Oh,  that's  the  state  of  the  case  is  it?"  cried  the 
pedlar  truculently,  advancing  on  the  other  with  clenched 
fists,  while  his  adversary  retreated  step  bv  stej).  "  Do  you 
know  what  I'm  going  to  do  with  you?  " 

"  Yes.  You  arc  going  to  accompany  me  quietlv.  and 
not  make  a  fool  of  yourself.    I  will  call  on  the  three  licrc 


"  Each  iicw-h.'itcliccl,  unflcdj^cd  comrade  "     13 

in  the  name  of  tlic  state  to  assist  an  ofiiccr  of  the  law,  if 
you  attempt  violence." 

"  If  it  comes  to  violence  I  can  readilv  take  care  of 
the  four  of  you  includinj^-  the  lior:;e  and  lnit,'irv.  ih,  y^u 
know  what  I'm  froin.v:  to  do  with  you?" 

"  I  know  what  I'm  ^'oini;  to  do  with  you.  I  arrest  you 
for  rcsistimv  a  duly  ([ualitied  officer  of  tiie  law."  Savin  ; 
this  the  official  whipped  out  of  his  pocket  a  i^leaminj,'  re- 
volver. I'.efore  he  could  raise  it  tlie  linn  hand  of  the 
pedlar  darted  like  a  hawk  on  the  otViccr's  wrist  and  the 
revolver  went  off  harmlessly  with  a  sharp  smitint,^  crack, 
the  bullet  raisinj^  a  spit  of  dust  on  the  road,  lien  and 
Jini  .spranj^  to  their  feet,  the  former  shoutinj^,  "  Don't 
resist  an  officer."  The  horse  in  the  huir.t,^-  reared  on  its 
hind  leqs.  the  other  in  the  wa,q-,i,nin  harelv  raised  its  head, 
in  spite  of  its  Kentucky  blood,  which  should  have  been 
responsive  to  the  click  of  such  a  weapon. 

The  pedlar,  smilin,":  faintlv.  ,t;entlv  detached  the 
fingers  of  his  opponent  from  the  butt  of' the  pistol,  with- 
drew it  from  the  reluctant  hand  and  slipped  the  deadly 
instrument  into  his  own  coat  pocket.  Then  he  said 
ascalnilyas  if  the  conversation  had  not  been  interrupted: 
"  Do  you  know  what  I'm  going  to  do  with  you?  " 
'■  Xo.  I  don't." 

"  Why.  I'm  going  to  show  you  my  licence,  as  vou  seem 
so  an.xious  to  look  at  it."  Saying  this  the  vo'ung  man 
patted  his  coat,  above  and  beneath,  slapped  his'trousers  as 
if  not  sure  where  he  kept  the  paper,  then  finallv  drew  it 
from  an  inside  pocket  and  handed  it  deferentia'llv  to  the 
officer.  The  latter,  somewhat  bewildered,  unfolded  the 
document  and  scrutinised  it  suspicious! v,  holdin.;-  it  up  so 
that  the  last  tinges  of  light  from  the  evening  sk\  illumi- 
nated it  faintly. 

"  Shall  I  strike  a  match  ?  I  trv  to  peddle  'em.  vou 
know." 

"  Your  name's  McAllister,  is  it  ?  " 

"  Yes.  Christened  P.cnjamin.  Commonlv  known  as 
Ben ;   P.en  the  pedlar." 

"  Where  did  you  get  this  paper?  " 

"  At  Lansing.    lsn"t  that  written  down  there?  " 


'  I' 


:       PI 


J 

r 

1- 

j- 

:- 

r 

i 

i 

14 


The  Victors 


"Why  did  you  mako  such  efforts  to  evade  me  in  town 
to-day  if  you  had  this  hconcc^" 

"Bless  you.  how  was  I  to  know  that  you  merely 
wanted  the  licence?  Evade  you?  You  bet.  I  thouS 
you  were  after  me  for  irran-!  larceny,  or  I,ad  found  out  I 
had  just  escaped  from  state  prison  at  Jackson.  Thunder! 
if  I  d  known  you  only  wanted  the  licence,  it  would  have 
.saved  me  a  foot  race." 

in  "thi^pap^r  ?'•''''  ''"''  "'"'  '''"  ""^  '^''  ^''''''''  "^"^^^ 

"  Is  that  a  conundrum ?    I  frWe  it  up.    How?    What's 
the  answer  .•'  "nai.  a 

Perhaps  the  frivolous  and  often  insultmjr  nature  of 
the  pedlar  s  replies  did  more  to  convince  the  officer  that 
he  was  on  the  wrong  track  than  if  the  demeanour  of  the 
culprit  had  heen  cringimr  and  supplicative.  It  did  not 
•seem  possible  that  a  man  who  was  not  sure  of  his  legal 
standing  could  be  so  independent  and  impertinent.  He 
that  as  It  may  the  officer  folded  the  paper  and  handed 

1hi     '•  -.u'^'T^  •"?  ^^^'i^"??^  the  revolver  which  the 
pedlar  with  a  flourish  pre.sented  to  and  not  at  him 
^^  1  hank  you, '  said  the  officer.    "  Good  evening  " 
O  dear  me   no.     The  discussion's  just  in  itsprime 
You  must  listen  to  me  for  a  while,  me  bov.     Now   vou 
seem  to  have  some  queer  ideas  about  the  importance  of 
your  official  position  which  I'd  like  put  righ    before  we 
part.     The  citizens  of  these  United   States  are  sover- 
eigns that  delegate  to  youse  whatever  power  ve'r  swing- 
ing.    In  consequence  of  this,  the  two  positions'of  an  ordi- 
nary citizen  and  an  official  take  on  the  status  of  master 
and  servant.     An  official  shud   keep  his  eve  peekd  to 
carry  out  his  duties  with  this  fact  in  view."  and  to  take 
care  that  his  acts  are  sort  of  whitewashe<l  with  courtesy 
and   justice   where   they   come   into   contact    with    thT 
liberty  of  a  citizen.  '  ^"^ 

"  I  quite  agree  with  you." 

"  Begobs.  sur.  ye  can't  do  otherwise.     It  must  be  the 
constant    endeavour  of    an    official  to    confi^    himse  f 
shtnctly  to  the  limits  of  the  power  enthrusted  to  h  m 
be  the  people,  because  the  moment  he  oversteps  thTt 


"  ^""=''  "««-l'atclicd,  miflcclgcd  comrade  "    ,5 
C  land.""""'"  '  '>''""■  '  """K  "»'  '0  be  born.  i„  ,|,U 

that  1  havfn^t  cxcec  c,      nr;'',?"™''"  '"  "«•  '=« 

"  IS  just  as  1  suspected."  he  said  af  Insf     "  v       u  j 

author  tv  wint  tin  i  trp,.      \\i  ?         <^'-,and  your 

rig  an,lacco?,e7n;"  ore   .;;",•',,"  'Sf  ""'  °S"^'' 

.0  carry.  a„<i  X    ™ /l'     "  ;^,'-'|°^  |'a.l  n,.  righ, 

road,  whose  strjn.,.  face    wit     i,    fii"5  "'^7  '"  .*= 
^haggy  Wows,  and^ts  n,as;i^?  oSti,^:[rjar*oT?;'^a 


i6 


The  Victors 


stranjijf  litjht  from  the  tjlow  of  tla-  I'vcninpf  sky  ns  he 
stood  crvcf  facinj;  the  wi'St.  lit-  inado  no  thrt-atcninij 
Kcstures.  no  j^'cstnri's  at  all.  in  fact,  but  his  voice  had  ;i 
(ioep.  accusinjj^  rintr  in  it  that  tlirilkvl  his  h'stonors, 
especially  the  two  yonnt^  nun  seatt'd  hy  the  roadside,  who 
seemed  to  for.i,'et.  under  the  spell  of  his  elof|uence.  that 
this  man,  fntm  whom  ■  U  levity  had  suddenly  falleti,  was 
fraudulent,  standin'jf  tluu'  stotuly  for  the  ri,nlUs  of  a  citi- 
zen on  the  insecure  fomidation  of  a  false  name  and  pur- 
loined credetitials.  He  had  assumeil  all  the  ilij^'nity  of  an 
implacable  and  just  iudjje.  and  his  victim  seemed  to 
cower  before  his  im])rej^nahlc  statement  of  the  Ci:se.  /\t 
last  the  official  spoke,  with  a  ])oor  attempt  at  noncha- 
lance : 

"  I  have  no  desire  to  carry  this  matter  any  further, 
if  you  haven't." 

"  Then  the  first  thinij  1  want  from  you  is  ah  abject 
apolotjy,  fjiven  in  the  presence  of  these  three  men.  before 
whom  you  infrinifed  upon  my  ri,!,dits,"  said  the  pedlar, 
sternly. 

"  \'ery  well;  I  have  no  hesitation  in  sayinpf  that  I  am 
sorry  I  acted  as  I  ilid.  and  I  ask  you — abjectly,  if  you  like 
— to  pardon  me." 

There  came  an  instant  chanjc^c  in  the  r'v^'ul  attitude  of 
the  accuser,  Hie  old  semi-sarcastic  smile  ;,r.rted  his  firm 
lips,  and  a  humorous  twinkle  ajj^ain  lit  up  his  eye. 

*■  That's  all  ritjht  and  'nuf  sed.  A  man  can't  do  more 
than  say  he's  sorry,  at  least  not  nuich  more,  unless  the 
injured  fierson  is  a  pedlar  and  in  that  case  the  overbear- 
intr  tyrant  can  help  to  tjrease  the  wheels  of  le.n'itimate 
commerce.  You  see.  from  circumstances  over  which  I 
had  mitjhty  little  control.  I  did  no  business  to-day.  He 
who  runs  may  read,  perhajjs.  if  the  print  is  lartje  enough, 
but  I  give  you  my  word  he  can't  eny-a.c^^e  in  traffic.  Say, 
officer,  I've  tjot  some  of  the  finest  writincf  paper  and  en- 
velopes here  you  ever  see.  Made  by  the  l^at^de  paper 
works  of  Limestone.  Mass.  Such  pai)er  has  never  before 
been  sold  in  the  West  at  the  price  I  am  ofifering-  it.  I  give 
it  to  you  .straight  that  official  utterances  penned  on  this 
paper,  if  vou  can  pen  utterances,  command  a  respect  they 


m&mm 


"  Kich  iK'W-hatihcd,  unflcdi^ed  comraclL- "     17 


cniild  nover  otlitTwisi'  obtain  slinrt  of  parclimi-nt.  And 
only  a  (|iiartcr  a  paokaijc ;  twcnly-tivc  ci-nts  takrs  tho  lot. 
What  do  you  say,  otiUccT?"" 

W'liik'  Ik-  wi-nt  j^lihly  on  Ik-  had  taken  from  the  tail  of 
thi'  \vaL;,L:on  his  hlack  knajisack,  and  with  a  dcftiu-ss 
that  iiidiiTUi'd  lon-^'  prariicr  throw  off  the-  clasps  and  split 
tin-  l)o\  ill  two.  liirouini^-  hack  cich  hin},'rd  half  'n  his 
kiuc,  thus  displav  inj;  the  waias  within. 
•  "  Uh,  1  see,"  rcniarki'il  tlu'  inspicior  ih-\Iy.  "  I  am  to  he 
a  purchaser,  am  1  ?  U  ihis  a  compnlM.ry  ailditioii  to  the 
apology? 

"  <  )f  course  not.  Tin  .ipnjoiLrv  eame  <|nile  i  .it p. rally 
because  yon  were  a  }j:entleman,  and  this  trailiiii^'  follows* 
just  as  naturally  because  ye  want  to  iielp  in  a  busi- 
ness revival.  You  insist  on  having  the  packaj.je  of  sta- 
tionery? \ery  j^jood  ;  it's  yours.  .\'ow  paper  and  en- 
velopes are  useless  'less  ye've  ])ens.  Here's  the  very  finest 
pen  in  the  market.  Dodd's  celebrated  Jum])in.L,'  Juniper. 
Ten  in  a  box  and  dirt  cheap  at  a  quarter.  Von  Tv'/// 
have  'em.  eh  ?  Ri;,dit  you  are.  Sold  aj,'ain  and  jjfot  the  tin. 
That  makes  half  a  dollar.  I'.ottle  of  ink?  \o?  (iot  m 
your  autumn  stock  of  the  fluid.  All  ri,i,dit ;  we  pass  that. 
How  about  pencils,  in  case  your  ink  ju'cts  frozen  durinij 
Aufjust?  Ten  for  fifty  cents,  half  a  dollar  takes  the  lot. 
r>est  in  the  world,  made  esiu'cially  for  the  Michi;j^an 
market  with  lead  so  t'lrm  and  unbreakable  that  they  are 
often  extracted  by  the  wives  of  our  pioneers  to  use  as 
knittin_ij  needles,  .'^ome  of  our  Iks!  statesmen  have  ac- 
(|uired  their  arithmetic  with  these  pencils,  while  wearinjir 
the  stt)ckinj4s  knit  by  iluir  leads.  With  the  assistance  of 
these  pencils  an  official  can  send  in  a  bill  for  expenses  to 
the  j2:overnmint  that  will  brint:  in  d  iul)le  what  he  paid 
out,  a  thin^^  that  can  be  done  with  no  other  brand. 
Must  have  the  whole  packet?  I  thought  so.  That 
totals  lip  to  a  dollar." 

"  Just  take  one  of  tlie  jiencils  and  make  out  vour  ac- 
count for  two  dollars;  if  you  are  satisfied  to  let  it  go  at 
that,  I  am." 

"  Oh,  no.  This  is  the  only  travellint^  a.Lrjj^reyation  on  the 
road  where  you  get  the  worth  of  your  money  either  in 


11: 

if 


i8 


The  Victors 


the  bifj  tent  or  at  tin-  side  shows,  so  here  you  are  for 
buttons.  Fiutton.  button,  who's  jjot  tlic  Initton  ?  Why, 
you  have,  of  course.  These  canis  of  assorted  buttons 
are  the  last  rock  of  refn>j;e  to  the  lonely  bachelor,  and  the 
Hi,'ht  and  bU-ssinj;  of  the  happy  home.  Si.xteen  cards  of 
variepated  buttons  for  a  dollar,  and  you  never  made  a 
better  barj^^ain  in  your  life.  Well,  here's  the  whole  out- 
fit. Two  dollars;  thank  you.  sir.  and  I'M  make  f)Ut  a  re- 
ceipt next  time  I'm  in  the  neii^hbourhood.  Sorry  to  have 
put  you  to  the  trouble  of  ci^minj;  ojit  all  this  distance  for 
yot  poods.  I'd  cheerfully  have  calk-d  on  you  either 
at  your  residence  or  at  your  office.  Will  know  where  to 
drop  in  when  I'm  on  my  ne.xt  round,    (iootl-eveninj;." 

The  pedlar  stood  in  the  road  and  watched  the  bufjjjy 
turn  round  and  drive  rapidly  down  the  hill  toward  the 
town  of  twinklinp  lij>hts.  then  he  said  to  the  two  sit- 
ting there.  "  Peddlinp's  a  business  like  everything  else. 
It  all  depends  on  knowing  how  lo  do  it.    See  ?  " 


CHAPTER  11 


"  he'll  turn   YOLR  CIRRENT  IN   A   DITCH" 

Hk.v  McAu.istkr   the  actual   rose  to  his  feet,  crossed 

inethc   h  t  /'  "''"^:'->'''''^':;r  ^°"°^^<-''"l"«  example^ 
^'unns:  the  last  few  m.nutes  McAllister's  sensitive  mind 

.ad  under^'one  some  extreme  variations,  and  the  resu 

of  a  ternau.  tens.on  an.l  relaxation  was  now  depre     on 

as  ,f  he  had  been  throuj-h  a  mental  debauch  and  Iv^i 

suffermK'  from  the  consequent  headache.     Ik  was  a    er 

d"  fo^'it"^  'T!"-  V'""'^''>-  ^^"^^  '^^  his  ancestor:  had 
d.cl  for  It.  and  heredity,  quite  unsuspected  by  himself 

r-^f^m       f  iT  "'"'''''  '^^'^I^  ''"^^•"  '"  1»«  nature  a 

s  ra  m  ..f  unrl.veIo...i  relij^ious  enthusiasm  which 
m.Kht  some  day  change  him  into  a  fanatic.  He^was  not 
co«:n>sam  of  these  things,  for  no  country  is  so  u Sown 

nn  T  J  •  '''^  depicted  a  simple-minded  person  with 
an  ea«-er  desire  to  get  on  in  the  worl.l.  honestly  ocoure 
with  an  exag:R:erated  estimate  of  the  powers  of  Xrs' 
and  an  undue  depreciation  of  his  own.  yet  dotted  vd^^^^^^ 
mined  to  do  the  best  with  the  resources  Sven  h im  a 
resolution  modified  by  the  constantly  recurHirfca  tha' 
K-  would  not  know  how  to  make  the  best  use  of  tl  e  ooDor 
tunities  that  might  befall  him  ^^ 

M.s  nerves  had  tingled  as  he  listened  to  the  pedlar's 
denunciation  of  tyranny,  and  his  back  stiff Aed  as  he 
heard  the  rights  of  citizenship  so  eloquent  in  d  down  • 
but  when  a  moment  later  the  serious  mask  Was  jaunUW 

f^rv?H  Tf  '°'  '^'  '^"^''^    ^"^   Ben  realised  that  the 
fervid  declamation  was  for  the  occasion  only  and  mt 

»9 


20 


The  Victors 


from  the  heart — that  cotivii-tion  ])laye(l  no  j)art  in  the 
oratory — and  more  especially  when  he  saw  the  pedlar 
turn  to  commercial  uses,  almost  blackmail  indeed,  the 
dilemma  of  the  victim  with  whom  he  verbally  played, 
McAllister  ex])erienced  a  sensation  oi  loathin,^;  that  niade 
further  communication  with  the  charlatan  almost  im- 
possible. 

He  looked  at  his  comrade  expecting^  to  find  in  his  face 
some  retlection  of  the  feelini,'-  that  animated  his  own 
breast,  but  he  saw  no  trace  of  such.  There  was,  instead, 
an  undeniable  ex])ression  of  admiration  for  the  business 
dexterity  which  had  so  successfully  extracted  ^-ood  money 
from  a  situation  which  at  one  time  seemed  desperate. 
Jim  shared  the  almost  universal  veneration  for  the  player 
with  the  tnnnp  card  who  takes  the  odd  trick. 

'■  If  you  will  return  to  me  my  licence,"  said  Ren 
slowly.  ••  we  will  t,a"t  on  wiih  our  journey.     It's  late." 

"  \\  here   do   you    think   you're   j^onig?"   inquired   the 
stranj^er  with  ]^;enial   curiosity. 
I  don't  know." 
"  Well,  I'm  bound  for  the  same  place." 
"  I  want  my  licence." 

"Oh,  see  here.  We  ain"t  soint,^  to  i)art  company  just 
yet.  I've  taken  a  notion  to  you  fellows.  You  stood  by 
me  like  a  couple  of  bricks,  and  a  man  does  not  ])ick  up  a 
real  friend  on  the  road  every  day.  Xo.  sir;  I  ain't  j:::oinj^ 
to  let  <;-o  of  you  so  (|uick  as  all  that;  besides.  I  can  see 
that  \ou  don't  know  any  more  about  ])eddlin,y-  than  a 
couple  of  infants.  Say.  you  shouldn't  be  allowed  out  on 
the  road  alone,  especially  at  nii,du.  I'm  ,i;oini;  to  take  care 
of  you." 

"The  first  thuv^  I  want  is  my  l-'cence;  after  that  we 
can  talk  of  the  future.  I  lent  you  the  licence,  it  served 
your  turn ;  now  give  it  back  to  me  if  you  are  an 
honourable  man." 

■'  I  never  claimed  to  be  an  honourable  man.  though 
I'm  not  such  a  liar  as  you  think.  I'm  a  pedlar.  liesides, 
you  wouldn't  know  what  to  do  with  the  licence  if  you  had 
it"  -^ 


It 


s  nune,     persisted  i)en. 


j^w*mF&^. 


#^ 


"He'll  turn  your  current  in  a  ditch"       21 

"Of  course  it's  vours.     Who  (lemV<;  ,>?     Mfi,^     . 
-u.t  ad.it  that  possession- "  -lie '^.;^;s,  'and'^    ^ 
I   --u;n.  I-act  ,s    the  ownership.  cJf  the  paper    s^a  de 
Latablc  .ii,CM,  ,„,  and  1  ni  (juite  willing  to  go  into  it  on  the 
most  am.ca,  .e  and  conciliatory  basis      You  see  Fm  1  L' 

will  be  shoutmg  across  the  strp,.f  tr.  fi,..  •     ''^'-^^"of  > 
fli.'c  ,    ,,^    1       r      ,'^.^  ^"^  Street  to  that  mspector    "Is 

ckVd  on  fKmoL ''■■■''¥  ^'^,'";"">/-  -  'How  are'vou 

to  me  iiul  r  ^;„,..i     i         •    ,  '  ^  ■^^'^^'-'  authorities  on 

^  "yCn/  St:^^;-^'^  ^"  ^'-  I-I-  -'^  I  .-  one 
Still      expostulated  Jim.  standing  up  for  his  fri<>nrl 
who  made  no  reply  to  this  statement  o    tie  case    ''tlfe' 
pai>er  is  ours,  all  the  same.     If  you  think    v^'  can  t'm  it 

1  11  tell  you  why  you  can't  do  that."  said  the  nedlir 

Hon\,  it  It  \\a.«,  a  felony.  Whatever  it  was  anvOum- 
you  re  m  .t.  and  you  ca.u  help  vourselve  .  it  S^  ^^ 
liave  youse  got  anv  money? "     '  ^  ^■^' 

"Do  you  want  that,  too?"  asked  Jim. 

this  Lme  of  the  year;  but  I  thmk  we  ought  to  be  getting 


22 


The  Victors 


I 


farther   from  town,  where   the  farmers  are  not  so   sus- 
picious and  don't  keep  their  barns  locked." 

"  As  my  friend  has  already  said,  the  first  proviso  is  the 
jjiving  back  of  our  property.  We  want  the  licence," 
said  Jim. 

*'  Then  don't  let's  waste  time,  but  discuss  the  matter 
as  we  ffo  alonjr." 

Saying  this  the  pedlar  carried  his  black  box  once  more 
to  the  waggon,  flung  it  in,  patted  the  patient  horse,  gath- 
ered up  the  reins  and  climbed  into  the  rickety  seat  as  if 
he  were  proprietor  of  the  conveyance.  Behind  the  one 
seat  were  two  square  receptacles  which  held  the  goods 
the  young  men  had  been  endeavouring  to  turn  into 
money. 

"  Come  on,  youse.  if  you're  coming."  commanded  the 
pedlar,  crying  over  his  shoulder  to  the  two  indistinct 
figures  that  stood  irresolute  some  distance  back  on  the 
road. 

"  What  are  we  to  do  ?  "  whispered  Ben  in  accents  of  de- 
spair. "  I  don't  like  that  fellow  at  all  and  don't  want  to 
travel  in  his  company,  yet  he  seems  quite  capable  of  driv- 
ing ofif  with  our  horse,  waggon  and  licence  if  we  don't 
go  with  him." 

"  Say !  Are  youse  coming,  or  arc  ye  not  ?  "  shouted 
the  stranger. 

"  Well,  there  is  only  one  of  three  things  to  do,'"  com- 
mented Jim,  "  go  with  him,  let  him  drive  oflf  with  our 
property,  or  take  our  property  from  him." 

"  Can  we,  do  you  think  ?  That  is,  can  we  take  it  from 
him  ?  " 

"  We  can  try." 

"  For  the  third  and  last  time,  are  youse  coming  with 
me  ?  "  repeated  the  pedlar. 

The  two  comrades  rapidly  approached  the  side  of  the 
waggon,  and  the  pedlar,  chortling  to  himself,  sat  as  far 
over  to  the  driving  end  of  the  scat  as  he  could,  to  make 
room  for  them. 

"  I  think  there's  space  enough  for  the  three  of  us, 
but    if    the    middle    man   finds    himself    uncomfortably 


^6«*i5fcpii 


laSK.-SHE^rS^y'trini^^SVIIfettJC^iSittaii 


"  He'll  turn  your  current  in  a  ditch  "       23 

crowded,  he  can  easily  step  back  and  get  a  very  good 
place  on  one  of  them  boxes." 

Jim  was  the  spokesman  of  their  new  resolve,  and  his 
voice  was  an.i^fry. 

"  For  the  third  and  last  time,  as  you  said  yourself,  or 
for  the  fourth  or  fifth  or  sixth  and  last,  will  you  give  up 
that  licence,  or  shall  we  have  to  take  it  from  you  ?  " 

"  Do  you  mean  that  ?  "  cried  the  pedlar,  dropping  the 
reins. 

"  Every  word  of  it." 

With  a  whoop  the  intruder  sprang  into  the  air  clear 
of  the  waggon,  flinging  his  arms  aloft  as  if  he  were  about 
to  fly.  Before  there  was  time  for  the  two  to  jump  he  was 
down  upon  them,  an  arm  around  each  neck  like  Samson 
grasping  the  pillars,  bearing  them  to  the  ground  as  if  a 
tree  had  fallen  upon  them.  When  they  realised  what 
had  happened  he  had  a  hand  clutching  each  throat  and  a 
knee  on  each  breast,  holding  them  absolutely  helpless. 
There  was  no  trace  of  annoyance  or  malice  in  his  voice  as 
he  spoke. 

"  Is  it  a  coercion  act  ye  would  be  after  puttin'  on  me? 

that  the  way  one  gentleman  should  address  another? 

.  ill  ye  give  it  up.  says  you.  or  shall  we  take  it  from 

ye?     Thunder  and  turf!  the  answer  to  that  question  is 

plain  enough.     Yc'll  take  it  from  me.     And  now  set  to 

work  at  it.  an'  let  me  know  when  you  get  it." 

There  was  now  little  doubt  of  his  nationality,  for 
while  he  did  not  talk  with  a  brogue,  there  was  neverthe- 
less an  accent  in  his  sentences  brought  on  by  the  excite- 
ment of  the  encounter  that  distinctly  pointed  to  Irish  ex- 
traction at  least. 

Jim  made  some  laudable  attempts  to  strike  his  assailant 
in  the  face,  which  ineffectual  blows  the  uppermost  man 
easily  evaded  by  holding  back  his  head  and  tightening 
his  grip  on  Jim's  throat.  This  caused  a  cessation  of 
efforts  which  the  under  man  speedily  recognised  to  be 
unavailing. 

"  It's  your  time  to  call  the  game  now.  so  what  are  ye 
going  to  do  about  it?  I'm  quite  comfortable  here  for  the 
night.    Are  youse  as  content  ?  " 


'  i 


0 


i ...  ( 


it  i| 


f  i 


•s 


^  'f  111 


tMm^?i^^sv7^'^!r^'^ 


24 


The  Victors 


"  Let  us  111)!  "  ,q:aspcil  f!en.  "  We  had  no  intention  of 
resortin.y;'  to  violence.  " 

"Is  it  resorting-  to  violence?  And  sure  if  ye  did  ;t 
would  he  ajj^ainst  the  most  peaceahle  man  in  all  this  worhl, 
the  more  shame  to  you  ;  a  man  simply  thirsting  for  friend- 
ship :  and  \ve"ll  take  it  from  ye,  says  you.  Now.  Tm 
enually  ready  for  a  scufHe  or  a  hug,  whichever  ye  like; 
for  a  smack  in  the  jaw  or  a  sliake  of  the  hand,  each 
eiUirely  welcome  and  returned  with  cordiality." 

"  \\here's  your  liherty  of  the  citizen,  and  your  freedom 
of  the  highway  now.  you  tlannel-mouthed  I'addy;  you 
Irish  hoodlum!  "  cried  jiin,  who  was  dis])leased  and  too 
much  excited  to  sj)eak  diplomatically,  which  proved  to  he 
a  tactical  mistake  in  the  circumstaices,  evidenced  hy  an 
increased  tightening  of  the  grip  and  weightier  pressure 
of   the   knee. 

"  And  that's  one  lie  to  your  credit,  for  I'm  as  good  an 
American  as  you  are,  in  sjjite  of  the  fact  that  I  was  horn 
in  the  old  sod,  hut  left  it  when  I  wps  less  than  two  years 
old,  and  that  was  as  reasomahly  early  as  one  could  he  ex- 
pected to  recognise  an  original  mistake:  hut  as  good  as 
you  are  and  as  had  as  I  am,  I  am  as  good  as  you  are, 
as  had  as  I  am.  Do  ye  hear  that,  now?  And  as 
for  them  things  you  speak  of  on  the  highway,  thev  go 
right  doun  fonienst  a  threat,  as  you'll  he  ahle  to  testify 
ever  after.  Liherty  and  freedom  are  all  very  well  taken 
in  moderation,  like  the  truth  we  were  discussing  a  while 
since,  but  too  much  of  anything  is  had  for  a  person. 
Avoid  excess,  me  hoy.  if  ye  want  to  live  long  and  have  a 
peaceful  time  on  the  earth." 

"  It's  an  interesting  subject,  and  I  would  rather  argue 
it  out  on  my  feet,  if  you  don't  mind,"  said  Jim  more 
calmly. 

"  Right  you  are.  and  sense  is  returning  to  you,"  replied 
their  oppressor,  without,  however,  making  a  motion  to 
relieve  them.  "  Will  ye  be  decent  comrades  to  me  for  a 
day  or  two,  and  will  ye  let  the  licence  rest  until  I  have 
it  clear  in  my  mind  what  is  best  to  be  done  with  it?" 

"  Yes.  yes."  saifl  the  parties  of  the  second  part,  thor- 
oughly defeated.    The  victor  sprang  from  them  as  nimbly 


"  He'll  turn  your  current  in  a  ditcli  "       25 

as  he  had  (k>scen,lecl  upon  thcni.  and  a  moment  later  was 
nHhistnouslv    ,r„shin,.  the  ,lu>t   from   thei,    coaN    a    I 

l^J^  '^l^.i'  "^■"-•^^'"^'  --'-^  ^^•'-'  •-  ^>"n- 

n.in!f  n''''-  "'"  'r',  ^"^  ''''"''  '''^'^  ^'^^'  ^^^.^-'^".  tal<in^^  the 
reins  a«i,n  as  ,f  the  .,uestion  .,t  his  lea.Iershin  and  pos- 
session had  heen  amicahly  settled.     Tonchin,^  u„  t   e    m- 
ammi.nis  horse  with  the  heech  ,.ad  uhieh  t<K>k  \h      ,1  ce 
of  a  whip,  they  jo.^r.ed  alon.^^  in  the  dar'mess  toward      e 
as  .  wlnle  he  rattle.l  on.  .^dvin,^  advice  and  rela  hv  '  ex 
enencos  as  ,f  nothin,-  untoward  had  marred  the  .^MiiU- 
of  their  eompan.onship.     The  other  two  for  the  most  mrl 
kept  silence,  oppressed  hy  the  feelin^^  that  tl  ev       r  >    n  a 

S^i^I^itf^'^^^  ^'  '-  ''--'  -^  -^'-  i--;^-" 

thorou'hfTr';  '!!"■'  ''  "f '''■''  '"  ^''  ""'^'^^  ^'"  ^''^'  "^'^•■'-' 
av     (),.  '  '''"■'■'  ^""  "^^">-  travellim,r  that 

uc  can.  and    hen  folks  are  glad  to  meet  us.     I  don't  sun- 

clear  thunigh  to  Detroit,   that  is,   for  notliino-    and   the 

1  always  strike  in  for  the  unfreciuented  districts  when  I 
want  somethm,-  to  eat  and  don't \vant  to  pav  for  Jt 

Aow  1  propose  not  to  continue  cast  toward  W'avnc 
county,  hut  to  strike  anglewavs  north  toward  Oakland   o' 

^^'::':;T!n  ''''t'  ^^--^  .-unty.  wLi^^r';-^ 

}ou  sa\.  or  shall  we  leave  it  to  chance  and  take  the  first 
cross-rond  we  come  to?     It  makes  no  sort  of  differ  to  no 
so       eave  it  tor  you  hoys  to  call  the  game."     The    >ec"la; 
^Xat  "  "'■  "'  --'-"-'^ting  magnanimit'^    : 

Tl  erf  V    s   no   rc^TT    ^''^"''-^'^-.^--^    of    a    monarch, 
iucrc   v\a.-,   no   reph    for  .some  minutes,   then   Mc    '  is 

io^ruit\L  the  teuMon  of  the  situation,  said  • 

^^  ^  .2:ii^>ss  ^lonroe  county  would  suit  Jim  best  " 
.  7t  '■'"  ^^''"'1'r  "  '■^-     ^'"  >'^'"  '^■"o^^-  anvhod)  there  V' 
Uii  1  see.  Be  guhs.  we're  all  AFs.     Mine's  MnmnV^. 

ratnck  Maguire.     You'll  he  saying  that's  WrhnSt.*"' 


r  i- 


ii-'l 


!•'  I 


26 


The  Victors 


"  Oh.  no.  It  strikes  mc  as  Norman- French,"  rcphed 
Jim  sullenly. 

Maguire  laughed. 

"True  for  ye."  replied  the  Irishman.  "It's  Norman 
New  York,  that's  what  it  is,  and  that's  where  I'm  work- 
ing mv  way  hack.  There's  no  nioney  in  the  West,  or  at 
least  if  there  is.  them  that  have  it  don't  want  to  part  with 
it.  It  doesn't  seem  to  me  I  get  my  share  among  the.^e 
pine  woods  millionaires  and  steamhoat  kings  hetween  here 
and  Chicago.  I  ho])e  there's  helter  hick  waiting  me  m 
theKast.  I  tell  you  what  it  is.  h<ns.  we're  going  to  stand 
a  mighty  good' chance  of  heing  hungry  to-night.  We 
fooled  too  long  at  the  top  of  the  hill,  for  people  go  to 
hed  early  in  these  nual  districts,  making  up  hy  that 
infamy  the  still  more  atrocious  crime  of  early  rising. 
Here,  get  a  move  on  you." 

He  ajjplied  the  switch  to  the  hack  of  the  listless  hor.se. 
that  amhled  along  through  the  night,  the  silence  of  which 
the  waggon  disturhed  hy  the  screeching  of  the  a.xles. 

'•  Sav,  hoys,  you  ought  to  keep  your  axles  greased. 
Make  it  easier  for  the  horse,  and  not  so  melodious,  as  we 
jog  along  life's  weary  way.  " 

"'•  You  ought  to  grease  them."  said  Jim.  "  Wc  have 
nothing  to  do  with  this  rig." 

Maguire  laughed  loudly. 

"That's  so.  I  forgot.  I'll  attend  to  it  in  the  morn- 
ing. Hello,  stranger,  where  are  you  otY  to  this  time  o' 
night  ?  " 

Maguire  pulled  uji  the  horse,  which  evinced  no  desire 
to  proceed  against  the  will  of  its  driver,  and  a  man  ap- 
jieared  out  of  the  darkness.  ai)proaching  in  a  friendly 
wav.  coming  to  a  halt  and  placing  his  foot  on  the  huh 
of  the  front  wheel,  peering  up  at  them  as  if  to  learn 
whether  he  had  heen  accosted  by  neighbours  or  not.  Any- 
how, he  was  disimsed  to  have  a  friendly  chat. 

"  I'm  a-goin'  home,  where  be  you  a-goin'?  " 

"  Wei!,  we're  looking  for  a  hotel,  perhaps  you  can  give 
us  some  directions." 

"  I  thought  you  were  strangers,  fur  I  didn't  recognise 
the  horse  as  belonging  to  these  parts.     Guess  ye  kind  of 


"He'll  turn  your  current  in  a  ditch"       27 

pot  out  of  ycr  way,  liain't  yc?  Ye  won't  find  no  hotels  in 
tins  district.  leastways  I  never  hear  tell  of  'em.  Won't 
find  a  tavern  nearer  than  Ann  Arbor  or  Ypsilanti  and 
there  they  do  stick  it  on  to  ye.  A  dollar  a  day.  a  dollar 
a  (lav  every  time,  an'  don't  yon  ior^cl  it.  If  a  man's  rat 
plenty  of  money,  all  ri;,dit ;  if  not,  the  best  thint;  he  can  do 
is  keej)  avvay  from  them." 

'•  They  do  sock  it  to  you.  don't  they?" 

"You  het.  I  donno  jest  where  ve  cud  .stay;  ye  see 
folks  IS  pretty  busy  jest  now,  am'  full  up  with  hired  men 
Amt  lookinsr  uir  a  job  harvestin^r,  be  ve?  fur  if  that's 
the  case  I  s:ucss  there  won't  be  no  trouble.  Hands  is 
powerful  .skase  this  season  .  most  alwavs  are.  come  to 
thmk  of  It. 

"  Well,  we  wouldn't  object  to  a  job  if  we  found  one 
to  suit  us.  at  least  we  would  take  supjier  and  bed  to-nieht. 
and  then  see  about  the  job  in  the  morning  after  break- 
fast. 

"I  s:uess  us  farmers  .trets  lots  o*  such  chances  as  that. 
It  don  t  happen  ye  be  pedlars,  do  it?  " 

"  It  happens  kind  of  that  war." 

"_\\'ell.  them  sort  of  folks  don't  jest  'pear  to  be  real 
pop  ar  m  the  country,  most  farmers  'lowin'  they're  sort 
o  cheats,  puttin'  it  straij-ht  like,  and  meanin'  no  of- 
fence, present  company  bein'  excepted,  in  a  manner  o' 
speakin  . 

"  Certainly,  certainly ;  we're  all  of  us  frauds  more  or 
less,  exceptin.jr  the  farmers  who  wouldn't  cheat  in  meas- 
ure or  quality  if  you  paid  'em  for  it."  The  man  with  his 
foot  on  the  hub  laui,died  heartily  at  this. 

"  W^dl.  them  as  don't  cheat  "finds  it  mi^htv  hard  to 
make  a  livin'  nowadays.     Didn't  ust  to  be  so  'in  the  old 
times,  but  I  donno,  I  donno.    Guess  take  'em  year  in  an' 
year  out    folks  is  pretty  much  the  same,  straight  alonir 
Km  ye  bind  q^rain  ?"  »  &• 

"  I  don't  know  about  bindinq-  it,  but  I  would  guarantee 
to  eat  some  of  the  ;  roduct  if  I  got  a  chance.  You  s-e  we 
ain't  so  mnch  looking  for  a  harvest  field  to-night  as  a 
supper  table.' 

"  How  far'd  ye  come  ?  " 


•I'i; 


28 


The  Victors 


"  Wc  drove  from  Ann  Arbor." 

"  Well,  your  horse  looks  al)()Ut  done  out.  and  T  jjucs.s 
it  ain't  much  of  a  horse  when  it  isn't  done  out.  Get  left 
on  a  trade?  " 

"  i\o.     Bought  it  for  cash." 

"  Want  to  make  a  dicker?  I've  got  one  I'll  trade  ve  fur 
fifteen  dollars  to  boot,  an'  then  I'd  be  losing  money,  for  i 
don't  see  much  in  that  there  horse." 

"  Of  course  you  don't,  because  you're  nf)  judge  of 
horse  flesh.  That's  a  Kentucky  bred  animal.  There's 
blood  in  that  horse,  and  it  can  do  its  good  mile  in  two 
hours  without  turning  a  hair,  and  I've  got  money  to  bet 
that  it  can." 

"  Ye  hev.  eh?  I've  got  a  wooden  horse  at  home  '11  beat 
that  nag  o'  yourn,  even  start  from  a  hilltop — providin'  th' 
hill's  steep  enough.'' 

The  man  laughed  boisterously  at  his  (nvn  humour, 
being  thus  always  sure  of  an  appreciative  audience.  Jim 
spoke  up : 

"  This  arranging  of  horse  trades  and  horse  races  is  all 
very  well  at  the  proper  time,  but  this  isn't  the  time.  I'm 
hungry,  and  the  (|uestion  I'd  like  to  sec  discussed  is  where 
are  we  going  to  get  something  to  eat.  I  suppose  you 
couldn't  give  us  a  snack?" 

"  O  good  Lord,  no."  cried  the  man  hastily,  taking  his 
foot  down  from  the  hub  and  retiring  modestly  a  few 
steps  back  into  the  darkness,  his  sense  of  hospitalitv  evi- 
dently taking  fright  at  the  thought  of  three  persons  and  a 
horse.  "  I'm  on  a  small  place  a  long  way  from  here,  livin' 
in  a  kind  of  shanty  at  that,  an'  my  old  woman's  gone  to 
bed  long  ago,  an'  I  expect  I'll  catch  gaily- wast  as  it  is  fur 
bein'  out  s'late  m'self.  No.  I'll  tell  ye  what  .o  do.  You 
go  right  on  till  you  come  to  the  schoolhoase,  you'll  sec  th' 
lights  in  it  at  the  next  turn,  everybody  in  the  section's 
there,  'cept  me,  an'  I've  just  left.  If  you  say  you  want 
a  job  to-morrow  you'll  have  lots  o'  chances  fur  supper 
to-night."'  . 

"  What's  on  at  the  schoolhouse?  Prayer  meeting,  sing- 
ing school,  ma^ic  lantern  show,  nr  what?  " 

"  No,  tain't  one  ort'other;  it's  an  'lection  meeting." 


"He'll  turn  your  current  in  a  ditch"      29 

"  What !  An  i-lection  at  this  tiinc  of  the  vcar?  " 
^  '■\\i'll.  a  sorter  kiiidfr  'k-ction  in  a  wav'of  speakin', 
siHcia!  k'ction  fur  tliis  here  district  an'  the  'joinin'  one. 
Seems  kuuk-r  stu])i(l  to  put  it  ri.ijht  in  th'  middle  ah  har- 
vt'st  nine,  but  that's  all  them  folks  knows  what  fixes  up 
them  thing^s.  ^'e  see  the  question  comes  down  to  tliis- 
l^'itch  or  no  ditch.'  " 

"  Well,  that's  perfectly  clear  ...  as  clear  as  ditch- 
water.  Which  side  are  you  on?" 
'  "  Oh,  say,  Maguire."  protested  Jim.  "  I'm  on  the  side  of 
supper,  an.l  han-f  the  ditch.  Lets  tjet  on,  there's  no  use 
ni  pf>ttenn.<,r  away  here.  I  believe  i'.en's  asleep  as  it  is. 
and  I  know  the  horse  dropped  off  loner  at^-o." 

"  Xow.  you  keep  your  hair  on.  Don't  you  fret.  If  you 
want  to  succeed  in  a  neitjh  hour  hood  vou'must  post  your- 
self on  the  subject  that  interests  that  nei!,dil)ourhoo(L  Go 
on  about  this  here  ditch,  stranrer." 

''lie  .-trantrer,  seein.c:  that  there  was  no  further  hint  of 
attack  on  his  larder,  had  advanced  ae:ain  and  had  rei)laced 
his  cowhide  l>oot  on  the  hub,  (piite  pali)ablv  i)repare('  to 
spend  the  m,<,dit  in  amiable  converse,  in' spite  of  his 
formerly  expressed  fear  of  his  wife. 

"Well,  I'm  air\n  it  mvself;  so's  most  o'  them  at  the 
schooljiouse,  and  that's  whv  we  met  to  take  steps  for  a 
veto  at  the  polls.  Ye  see  thev  think  thev  want  a  bii,-  ditch 
t  dreen  a  swamp  a  few  miles  from  herJ.  an'  i)ut  a'tax  on 
all  the  property  all  round  to  pay  fur  it,  so  much  a  vear 
fur  ten  years.  Well,  we  say  let  them  as  wants  this  ditch 
lay  fur  it." 

That  seems  reasonable." 
"Well,  the  other  fellows  don't  want  to  do  that;  they 
say  it's  for  the  improvement  of  all  tliis  part  of  the  coun- 
try, and  so  all  this  part  of  the  countrv  ou,<,dit  to  be  taxed 
fur  it." 

"  That  seems  reasonable,  too. 
on  it.     W^hich  side's  .coiner  to  win? 

"  Well,  I  cud  tell  ye  that  better  dav  after  "lection.    It's 
about  nip  an"  tuck,  six  o'  one  and  half  a  dozen  o'  t"other." 


.*>o  >'ou're  .coin  Of  to  vote 


1;- 


"  All  right. 


Most  interesting  situation.     Thanks  ever 


30 


The  \'ictors 


so  much.     Tlr.nk  they   won't  all   have  left   the  school- 
house  by  the  time  we  can  jjet  there?  " 
"  Well.  I  jT[uess  not  if  ye  hurry." 
"  Oh,  we've  just  got  the  animal  for  speed.    Good-:)ight. 
Git  up,  there." 

The  harvest  moon  had  risen  while  thcv  talked  and  had 
gradually  outlined  the  beauties  of  the  landscape  as 
a  i)icture  is  slowh  developed  on  a  i)hotoj,'raphic  plate. 
The  plaintive  cry  of  the  whippoorwill  came  from  a  peit,di- 
hourins:  thicket,  endin.y:  abruptly  in  a  "  kuh-whip  "  as  the 
screechinjT  vvajjjijon  approached.  The  schoolhouse  proved 
to  be  a  wooden  structure  with  three  windows  on  each 
side  and  a  small  porch  and  double  door  ai  the  end  f acini; 
the  road.  It  stood  some  distmcr  back  from  the  thorou'-^li- 
fare  near  the  centre  of  a  plot  half  an  acre  or  so  in  area, 
surrounded  by  a  board  fence.  The  jratc  had  been  taken 
oft  its  hinsfes  avd  had  disappeared,  and  the  fjround 
v-as  as  barren  as  a  similar  piece  of  the  g-reat  desert.  Xot 
r.  tree  nor  a  shrub  nor  a  flower  {jladooned  the  eve  in 
the  educational  yard,  although  this  was  a  land  of  trees, 
shrubs  and  flowers. 

The  lights  were  out  in  the  schoolhouse.  and  the  meeting 
had  dispersed,  but  a  number  of  enthusiasts  lingered  round 
the  gateway,  some  leaning  against  the  fence,  others  sr, 
on  the  inclined  board,  which  from  its  rain-shedding  fun*.- 
tion  was  nailed  to  the  top  of  the  cedar  posts  at  an  angle 
slightly  less  than  that  of  the  roof  of  a  house,  and  thus,  on 
occasion,  formed  a  somewhat  insecure  elevated  bench. 
Some  smoked  and  listened.  Others  laid  down  the  law  in 
animated  fashion. 

"  Good-evening,  gentlemen,"  cried  Maguire,  pulling  up 
opposite  the  group. 

"  Evenin', "  came  the  answering  salutation  from  several, 
all  talk  ceasing  for  the  moment. 

"  Well,  rentlemen."  said  Maguire,  facing  round  to 
them,  dropping  the  reins  and  throwing  his  right  leg  over 
the  end  of  the  seat,  lettmg  his  foot  swing  easily,  "  this  is 
going  to  be  a  pretty  close  contest." 

"  You  bet  it  is."  cried  one,  a  trace  of  astonishment  in 


He'll  turn  your  current 
his  voice  at  bcinp  accosted  bv 


III  a 


ditch 


31 


..,^1,  f-,.  f     ■;     ■"•  ,"" '"'  "-'  "  stranger    who  showed 

such  famihanty  with  piinlv  local  aflfairs 

•'  The  chances  are.  K^ntlenien.  that  this  here  (Utch  is 

.Tom,ir  to  he  ,iu^^  and  every  spa.leJul  taken  out  of  the 

trench  takes  a  portion  of  cash  out  of  vour  pockets   and 

as  times  sro.  tliere  ain't  any  too  much'nionev  tliere  now 

compared  with  the  amount  of  work  you  have  to  put  in  to 

accumulate  it.     Xow.  ofThand.  the  way  it  strikes  a  sane 

man  wuhout  interest  in  the  cpiestion  eitlier  way  is  that 

h^n;r'L'  r"'"  "'-'^  '\'''  ^"^^"'^  ''"^'  ^^^  ^''^••"  p"t  their 

keep    heir  claws  out  of  your  purses  and  mine." 


Hear,  hear!  "  "  I 


Uilly  fur  you !  "  "  That's  the  wav  to 


fill- 1  ••  "  -ri    *  I  •.       ■  .,      •       •         '  "'''  =»  '"<-'  wav  to 

t  ment  ^J      '""'"  ^T'  "^  !'^"  '•"'"■"^"^  '^'^'  ^'"'^''^^  these  sen- 
tniients  expressed  from  the  li-ht  wa--„n 

Old   farmer  Who  was  leanin-  a.ijainst  the  gate-post. 

Ao    I  ain  t   hut  I  «:ot  somethin..^  that's  a  darned  si-ht 
Ktter,  Ive  got  a  proposal  to  make  and  the  brains  and 
he  energy  t.)  back  it.     Vou  hear  the  too      ^  mv  ba/oo 
.11  a  pedlar  myseh   and  I  go  all  over  this  c  .intrv.  an,    [ 
hear  what   people  are  talking  about.     Thev  talk   freely 
with  mo    because  they  know  I  haven't  a  vote,  and  I'm 
iKrc    to-day   and  gone  to-morrow,  so  it  don't  make  no 
(bfl-erence  one  way  or  t'other,  an'  I  talk  free  with  them, 
list  as   r  do  with  you  and  evervbodv  else.      Ml  ri^U 
C  onsequence  is  that  the  way  you're  a-going  on  vou'r^ 
jJTMng  to  get  licked,  an'  that's  what's  the  matter  with  the 

';  Oh.  I  don't  know  [bout  that,"  demurred  a  bvstan.jer 

Vnn-I  i'""'''  r"  ^  ""  '  '•  '^''''''  ''^'y  I'"^  telling  ye  See? 
^ou  11  knou-  about  it  after  the  voting,  but  that'll  b.  too 
ate  Now  s  the  time  to  know,  when  it  will  do  some  .ood 
tell  you  you  re  licked  at  this  present  moment,  and  vou 
Jlon  t  need  to  take  the  trouble  of  going  to  the  polls  at'al 
because  your  staying  home  will  onlv  make  the  ditch  mn- 
jontv  biggt-r  and  won  t  aftect  the  result.  The  taxes  will 
be  there  just  the  same.  Xow.  what  vou  lack  is  or  .^n- 
isation ;  you  want  a  machine  on  this  thing.    But  organisa- 


32 


Tlif  X'iclors 


lioii  talxcs  tinu-  and  ymi  Iiavc-n't  tin-  time  to  spare  at  this 
;>cas..ii  (,t  t!if  year.   Tliiiik  ..(  tli,.  darn  UhA  idea  of  brin^r. 
in;;  on  a  vote  riyln  in  tlie  middle  ol'  liar\e>t!   Hkii  siious 
you  how  imuii  those  in  aiithnntv  l^nov\  ol"  the  wauls  of  the 
tarmiiiK'  iommiinily.     .\,,w.  1  11  take  hold  of  this  organ- 
isation husiness.  am'  I've  K('l  two  yood  men  here  to  Tuln 
me.      Well   hrsl   eanva>-,   iIr.  sceiion   ami   find  otit   how 
everybo,  y  ,.s  -o^l.^r  to  vole.     ju>t  a.s  it  is  m  this  croud 
tlK-re  wdl  he  some  fell-.ws  on  the  fenee."   (There  was  a 
laii^di  at   this,   and    .Ma,-uire.   warminii-   with   his   theme 
stood  up  m  the  wa,i;.U-n.>    "  W-rv  well,  it's  the  simple.st 
possil.je  (ine.Mion   m   a.l.Iiii.wi   and   suhtraetion.      Sav   wc 
want   hve  or  teii-wc  find  that  out  when  the  canvass  is 
hmshe.l-wcvc.cot  to  in.luee  five  or  ten  of  those  fellows 
on  the  lence  to  come  down,  and  to  conie  down  in  our  vard 
at  that. 

"•\\  hatter  y..ii   -uin"  to  make  out  of  it  .^  "  asked  the 
cautious   individual. 

•■  Xow  that's  the  way  I  like  to  hear  a  man  talk.-  cn- 
tnmed_  MaKUire.  admn-iuKly.    "  What  am  I  ^'.-int,^  to  make 
out  ol  n.-     It  I  tuld  you  I  was  doin-  thi.  for  mv  health, 
or  because  I  smiply  loved  this  farmin-  communitv.  vou'd 
know  I  was  a  liar,  wouldn't  vou— or  a  politician,  which 
IS  exactly  the  .same  thin-?     \.,w.  as   [  loM  vni.  I'm  a 
pedlar,  and  it  I  make  a  ^-oo.I  livin-  at  it    that's  simplv 
K'cause  I  sell  ......js  at  a  price  about  half,  and  less  than 

halt  you  couM  .i^et  them  el.sewhere.  same  qualitv  Vou 
neednt  lau.eh,  I  can  prove  it  t.)  vou  „.hv  if  anvbo.lv's 
p. t  some  casli  m  his  pocket.  Anv  .i.:entleman  obli-e  me 
by  handing-  up  a  dollar  and  see  how  much  I  -ive  h.r  it  > 
Ao  takers?  J  his  i.sn't  market  dav  I  suppose.  '  Xo  j^ri-ntlc- 
man  s  entitled  to  (piestion  my  remarks  mdess  he  stands 
ready  to  test  em  by  producin-  the  c i;n.  It's  a  case  of  nut 
up  or  .shut  ui,.  Well  as  I  was  .avi,,^..  I've  ma.le  monev 
at  thi.s  business  simply  because  n.^bodv  can  compete  with 
me.  Thatsn.LTht.  I'm  i^ivin-  it  to  vou  .straii:l,t.  WJiv 
one  of  the  bi--.<;est  officials  in  .\nn  .Ari.or.  this'verv  even 
in.s-,  Q:ot  out  a  livery  stable  ri-  and  followe.i  me  alonir  the 
^psdant!  road  :mc]  bnu-ht  two  dollars'  worth  „f  ^^oods 
from  me,  and  it  paid  him  to  do  it,  too,  after  settling  for  the 


Ill   llir    I  Hliii|i||IMIIIIIil1  I  ilil|i|| 


"  He'll  turn  your  ctirrciit    in  .,  ditrh  "       ,^ 

IHTO-  an.i  all.  \nu  can  ask  tlicst-  tu-.  unuv^  ,„,,,  hHo  are 
with  n.c  ,t  von  won't  takt-  ,ny  wnr.l  .or  it.  an-l  1  ncvi-r 
saw  cither  of  thc>n.  hdnrv  t<.-.lav :  am,  u  j.,st  as  I  mue 
a.  boys-  (a,,,,calin.i,r  t-.  Ik-n  and  J,m).  •  V.ni  saw  h>m 
folt.w  n,c  an.  ym.  heard  the  very  first  u  .rds  lu-  s,  .kc. 
Arc  you  the  fellow  that  was  pe.l.llinir  in  Aiu.  An,  r  this 
afterno,.„r  he  says.  Vo„  lu-ani  I,un  nn.l  v.,,,  .au  mk 
sdl  him  the  k:oo(1s  and  K'ot  the  two  dollars,  now  di.Int 

"  ^*'"^'  t?'!'.^^*-""-    "  "''  •'■''  '"""w  von  in  a  i.mr,.y.  and 
yoii  did  sell  him  two  dollars'  worth  of  jr„o,|s   but—" 

Wliy.  of  course.  I  wouldn't  ^ivc  v.ni  anv  ^ufl,  for 
I  know  twouldn  t  he  any  use.  lUit  I  hope  t.'.  he  struck 
in  my  tracks  if  it  isn't  true.  Well.  then.  I  expect  to  d,.  a 
J,'ood  deal  of  business  in  this  district,  an.l  the  better  I'm 
known  the  tnore  business  111  do.  an.l  when  I  leave  vou'll 
^■'j!*-:.f^*':"'*  '"^'-  '■'<'-'  l''''t  fi-'llow  in  .\nn  .\rbor  -     ' 

..  4V''''f      ?.""  ''^"  ^'■>'"^'  ^"  ^'*-'t  awav  with  ?     Hordes ^  " 

■I  bat  s  all  rii,dn,  boys  :  I  can  take  a  joke  as  well  as  the 

next  man.     1  don  t  need  no  horses,  boause  I've  uot  the 

H-st   na.tj  m   the   place,   as   you   ran   see   tor   yourselves 

Kac.n^r  •;;lock.  that  animal  is.    (Jot  overheated  winninj?  the 

Darby  at  Louisville,  and  has  been  tryin-  to  ^ct  rested  ever 

since.     No.  gentlemen ;  I  don't  ask  a  cent  for  or-anisinii 

this  campai.i,Mi  and  putting:  the  other  fellows  in  the  ditch 

they  don  t  want  to  pay  for.  but  I'd  l,ke  to  have  a  little  of 

your  frood  wdl.  and  when  you  come  to  do  business  with 

me-any  article  not  found  satisfactory,  money  cheerfully 

refunded.     And  now— to  c.  aie  to  the  point,  for  it's  m- 

tin.i,^  late-aiul  I  don't  seem  to  be  able  to  ^nt  a  w.'.rd  in 

ed.t,H-ways  m  tins  discussion-who's  the  leader  on  our  side 

of  the  fence,  or  I  should  .say  on  our  side  of  the  ditch  ?  " 

Several  answered  promptly:    "  Byfield.    Step  forward 
Hyheld.     lies  askin.i,-  for  \ou." 

"All  ri-ht,  Mr.  IJyflold."  what  do  you  sav^"  queried 
Ma.iruire,  fflancins:  over  the  assembla.i^'e.  when  an  elderlv 
man  who  had  taken  no  part  m  the  debate  hitherto  stepped 
forward  and  cleared  his  throat  Mao-uiV^  fa<:tcnc-'  'i 
gaze  on  BytielU  as  if  he  had  known' all  alunij  who  he 
was.  **  ^ 


if 

!l 


3^ 


The  Victors 


I  r:ucss  It  s  pretty  much  as  the  stranger  savs."  re- 
marked Byfield  slowly.  "  and  we'll  need  ail  the  help  we 
can  get.    If  these  men  don't  want  anv  cash  out  of  pocket 
1  guess  It  might  pay  us  to  listen  to  vVhat  their  plans  are  • 
but  1   for  one  don't  guarantee  anything  " 

"  Certainly  not  and  'nufl  scd/'  proclaimed  Maguire. 
cordially.  "  Well,  as  I  remarked,  it  is  getting  late  and 
everybody  wants  to  go  home.  I  know  I'm  tired  for 
we  came  lickety-biinder  all  the  wav  from  Ann  Arbor  to 
be  present  at  this  meeting  and  nearly  arrived  too  late  aH 
on  account  of  this  official  delaying"  us.  I'll  see  you  in 
the  mormng.  Mr.  Byfield.  and  lav  mv  plans  before  you. 

Zt"Ty  .  •;'''•  M,'','  °^'''^'  "'  ^>'  ^^''''"^  ""^  the  wav  to  the 
nearest  hotel  we  11  be  jogging  on,  for  we  took  such  a  hur- 
ried supper  at  Ann  Arbor  that  I  want  to  get  .omethinjr 
more  to  eat.  ^ 

"  As  fur  a  hotel."  said  Byfield.  solcmnlv,  "  there  ain't 

any,  but  if  you  don't  mind  roughing  it  a'  bit  vou  could 

come  with  me.     I  kin  give  you  a  place  to  put  the  horse, 

fo"  ether'''^  '"  '"^^  '^  ■'°"  "^""'^  ""'""^  sleeping  three 

"  Oh,  anything  will  do  for  us.     I'd  rather  sleep  in  the 

lay-mow  than  anywhere  else.    These  boys  will  take  to  the 

loft,  and  1 11  bunk  m  the  hay.    Lord  !  I  know  how  crowded 

things  are  at  a  farmhouse  in  harvest  time.    I  was  raised 

on  a  farm.    Well,  boys,  so  long.     See  vou  later  " 

\vith  this  he  took  up  the  reins  and  drove  slowly  down 

the  road,  the  farmer  refusing  his  gracious  offer  of  a  ride 

saying  he  preferred  to  walk  bv  the  side  of  the  wa"-£ron' 

one  son  and  a  hired  man  following  in  the  wake.     The  rest 

of  the  people  dispersed,  some  going  one  wav  and  some  an- 

D'';:*!f"'  '■°"'.?  <^^'"'*>'"S:  far  in  the  still'evening  air 

Byfield  was  silent,  and  Maguire,  having  accomplished 

what  he  set  out  to  accomplish,  seemed  to  have  no  further 

desire  to  speak     Ben  and  Jim  had  got  out  of  the  democrat 

an(    were  walking  together  close  behind  it.   talkine  to 

each  other  in  whispers.  ^ 

"  What  are  we  to  do  to  get  back  the  licence  and  secure 
possession  of  our  belongings  again?  The  more  T  see  of 
this  fellow  the  less  I  like  him,  and  I  don't  propose  to  be 


"  He'll  turn  your  current  in  a  ditch  "      35 
dragged   through    life  after   him   in  this   manner."  said 
The  practical  minded  Jim  replied  • 

freshing  on  a  ira™  n^St  "  ''"«■  '""^f--"?  drink,  re- 

pitcher  o'f  n,ill<  Z  sote  c  nc^S^Tl  III '  ?"/'"'  ' 
made  no  complaint  that  the  no.  hr  nn,l  M  ,  '"'  '^™" 
Hid_^not  do  ample  ,,s,cc  to^.t'",?rlht  r^rc^d-^St^ 


I 


I     , 


CHAPTER  III 

"  LET    ME    BUY    VOUR    FRIENDLY    HELP  " 

Hfn  and  Jim  thoujrht  Farmer  Byfield  rather  a  quiet 
reserved  man  the  evening  they  first  met  him,  but  tiiev  la- 
boured under  no  such  delusion  next  morninfr  The 
farmers  voice  rang  through  the  house  in  vibrant' tones 

It  rendered  all  lurther  sleep  impossible,  as  indeed  was 
tlie  mtention. 

"  Get  up ;  get  up."  he  cried.  "  What's  the  matter  with 
you'  Want  to  hem  bed  all  day?  Think  it's  Sundav.  I 
s  pose  and  here  ifs  lialf-past  four  if  ifs  a  minute,  and  no 
one  to  feed  the  horses  yet.   Say,  Sam,  dvou  hear  ?  " 

Uh.l  hear  all  right  enough,"  growled  Sam,  the  eldest 
son.  sleepdy  ;<  Nobody  could  help  hearing  if  he  was 
ahve.  and  withm  a  mile  of  the  house  " 

'  Get  up,  then.  Ought  t'have  been  out  long  ago.  Looks 
like  ram  too;  thought  last  night  it  did." 

"  Xo  such  luck,"  murmured  the  hired  man.  But  thev 
all  got  up  nevertheless,  yawning  industriouslv 

Ihe  farmer  had  put  time  forward  when  he  said  it  war, 
half-past  four.  It  was  not  so  late  in  the  dav,  and  there 
was  still  time  to  do  a  good  morning's  work.  Everv  clock 
in  tlie  house  was  deliberately  set  from  half  to  throo-nuar- 
ters  of  an  hour  fast,  and  for  some  occult  reason  thev  were 
always  kept  thus  far  in  the  future,  although  thev  deceived 

^Ir^nd;-  ;,^''^'  ''"'>^''^"  '^'''''  ^"'-  «'^'"^'  time  and  had 
alreadv  set  the  fire  going  in  the  kitchen  stove  before  call- 
inq-  the  otiiers.  A  successful  farmer  diflfers  from  the  Ccn- 
tun<;n  of  Scripture  in  that  he  says  "  come  "  instead  of 
J-TO, 

The  first  to  appear  was  not  one  of  those  called  so  vo- 
ciferouslv.  but  a  strikinrrly  handsome  and  healthv  voune 
girl  of  about  eighteen,  her  lar;e  eyes  lustrous  and'dewv 
36 


"  Ixt  me  buy  your  friendly  help  "       37 
wl*o' irwi'^all"^'',"  ""'  ■'"■"■'■"  '"'  '""''  ""  "«=  -^'ove, 

.he  disks  of  p„.a,„':Hc"a*'ro     l^^J^i^^^: ^'r 
s.mmcr,n^    and    browning,  of   dclic!^,t 'o^^,  Vl?j;:; 

airoVZmorme  'V""*'  "PP«-"Kly  ■"  •!»  ke™.    So 
some  am ,"  ',"y;"-      u"'"  """"'"  ''^"  "«  ">'  '«»  """Pt- 

vomJ^IISn^fvlr' Ir  1  'l''  ^'r^'"^'  "  ^^'^  '"^'^'^^J  '"  three 
out    n      e "in   "^ "{^f  \"'.^''t-t^vo  in  the  loft  and  one 

choice.'-  '"^''  -''''"'■  '"°"^>'  a"^'  takes  your 

"\oii  keep  quiet,"  answered  the  mrl  •  "ir-  f.-. 

™n,r;;-;:i -£;•..''-=-- -»--K™s 

rnke"V"s."c'ak""l""  ""'•■,  ■  ''°"  -'.^"'  ri.e'-arhi™ 
swivel."  *^""'  '"'  '""R''^  i'  hunjT  on  a 

','.  JY"",'''  '"='    J^notlicr  hired  man»" 

conSnpt^'Thi^^^r-^"'"  ^^  ^"  i-Pati^nt'e  Lula  on^of 
W  e  ntion  nn  h''"  ''"'  "  '•°°'"  ^"""^'^  "^^^^ure  in 
h.ec.nJ^^^^^^ 

and  s.s  er  were  talkm.o:  to.^^ether.  and  had  <,one  mX'dv 

^    nol         ''"''  ^""  "^^^  appeared,  and   ^a^e  a  cord'al 
irood-mornino-     to  the  mir    «,i„-,.i,  t-ora.ai 

warmth,  at  lea?t  bv  San;  ^  ''"'  '■''"'■"^^'  ^^'^'^ 

sc^m^oj.  ol^ection.;  there's  a  lln  S^:^,!;;  ^^^^   'I,^' 
and  water  m  the  rain  barrel  under  the  caves-trough/' 


1     fe|^ 


38 


The  Victors 


If 


Lo  t,e  seemed  barely  to  cast  a  glance  at  the  vounj?  men, 

but  there  was  an  unmistakable  air  of  town  'about  them 

that  swiftly  mitigated  Ikt  previous  disdainful  classifica- 

lon  of  tbe-i  as  pedlars.    While  they  were  conversing  with 

her  brother  she  went  quietly  to  the  stoop,  whisked  awav 

^.:s^^:r::i:^i::r'  °"  ^  ^-  -'-^'^  --^^  ^ 

,,. " ,'  "■°"''"; ''f  i>°"£,  fri™<l  is  up  yet.  and  if  he  has  fiven 

badly°far„gh;'"   ^'=  ""'  '°°'^«'  ='  "■  '-  -''^'°- 

''  The  horse  is  ours,  not  his."  said  Ben. 

^^  That  so?    I  thou-ht  he  owned  the  whole  outfit." 

^^  He  talks  as  if  he  owned  the  earth,"  put  in  Jim. 

^^  Un,  isn  t  he  a  friend  of  vours  ?  " 

"  We  never  saw  him  till  last  evening.    We've  been  trv- 
ing  to  do  a  little  in  the  neddling  line— mightv  little  it  wa% 
too^^dunng  the  last  few  week^  and  this^man  came  on  us 
wh.le   ue   were   resting  near  Ann   Arbor.     He   hadn't 

all  >  ' 

r^.'^ffJ^lu^'^  ''''"'*  '^"°'''  anything  against  him,"  inter- 
rupted the  conscientious  Ben,  who.  with  a  glance  at  his 

"  pf.^""r'^-"  continued  Ben,  "  we  don't  know  anythin- 
much  in  his  favour  either.  All  I  wanted  to  say  was" 
that  you  are  about  as  well  acquainted  with  him  as  we 

;;  Oh,  I  see.   T  thought  you  were  all  the  one  crowd." 
Ao,  Ben  and  I  are  the  one  crowd.     Mr.  xMaguire  is 
the  other,'    said  Jim.  '^h^n^  ij> 

They  were  out  on  the  stoop  at  the  side  of  the  kitchen 
and  the  farm  boy  of  twenty  still  lingered  near  them  as 
they  put  the  tin  basin  and  the  collected  rain  to  their  uses 
There  was  httle  in  their  conversation  that  indicated  a 
college  training  yet  there  was  an  undefinable  someth  ng 
that  fascinated  Sam  and  held  him  in  bondage.  He  saw  in 
them  advance  agents  of  the  great  and  stirring  world  if 
which  he  knew  l^tle  except  by  hearsav,  and  tlu-v  pre- 
sented to  him  all  the  mystery  of  things  unknown,  although 


If 


"  Let  me  buy  your  friendly  help  "        39 
in  point  of  fact  tney  were  orobahlv  f.i.;t«  ^    • 

p™ac),«l  fr„„,  .he-barn  and  Scr  up  ed    h^oTtenT 

-Say.  »ani,  where  ye  been  all  niomiiw'    <"«??, 
you  and  help  the  hired  man  "  '"""""*•■    ^"  =  ""ve  on 

.o,?«he?tx'  hnn 'i;;;-;  r  ""*"■  ="■,'  •"=  "■'-  -"<-' 

in2ht"°'-'S'"  ™™l  ^'''.~"'>'=-  >vhcn  Ihe  .hrec  hoye 

sJty7o".:;;eair.httL^^ 

"'.  s  arra'llep t,  •^T"  '"TT  '  '  -PP-^'-e  .tj 
beast!"  "^  '  mercful  man's  merctful  to  his 

■•Onifr.!;  '"  '?""=  ""fl*-;''  '«st."  commented  Tim 
somet!;  ^^rr--  ...I'-^J-r-  -o-t  mind  as  fL., 
The  hired  man  launched  heartily. 
Jest  hear  him  talk!     Yon'fl  thini-  k^m  u 

^^  t  tsS'z  ^r  i5>  -7  ^T  r " '' -^ 

in  his  leff  as  TvyaT     T  ;  >H  tf-  '"'-t'  ^  '!"''^'  '^^  P'^chfork 

down  the  horse's  manUrbe  „    ■- l^re  awake"  '^'i,'!"  I 
co^^a'y  tr^flJt  ',  '^^^f  f""  f  all^R-  be' 

;;  jest  about  it ;-  chuckled  the  hired  man. 
We  would  like  to  have  a  little  tilb  «.,-fT 
-vately/-  said  Monro  to  Maguire.  ^'^'^  P''- 


:il 


i  f 


»tl 


40 


The  Victors 


What!  Before  breakfast?  x\,)t  likely.  Business 
transacted  at  this  office  only  durin.ij  business 'hours  Call 
upon  a  man  of  business  in  hours  of  business,  onlv  on  busi- 
ness, transact  your  business  and  ffo  about  vour  business 
and  .t^nve  bun  tune  to  attend  to  bis  business,  or  words  to 
that  effect.     Eh.  hired  man?     Isn't  that  ri-ht?     That's 

wnnlTn""'- J""^    ^'"^   ^'^'""^   '^   ^°    '^'"   ^^•"^'S^"'   ^S   the   old 
\\  uiiicin    S3,Kl. 

"  ^'otl  bet."  agreed  the  hired  man 

VVhen  the  morninc,^'s  work  about  the  barn  was  finished. 

H  r.  f    '"'      '"r';7  '°.^''^"  '^•'"^^"  ^"^^  '"  t«  breakfast, 
fnth    ,     f  ^'""^^'■.Maffuirewas  momentarilvnonplusserl, 

The  ni  Jh?  "rf'^P'''"^u"  r  '"  ^'''''y  ^  ^i'-i  '-'t  tlie  table. 
1  he  ni-ht  s  lodffinsr  m  the  hay  had  left  on  the  voun-  man 

many  a  particle  to  attest  the  nature  of  his  bed.ling.  and  his 

hair    was    powdered    with  clover    seed.     It  was   one    of 

Patricks  principles  to  make  himself  entirely  at   home 

whereyer  he  was.  and  his  method  of  doin^r  this  was  to 

appear  as  much  as  possible  like  his  host,  so  he  had  allowed 

the  reminiscences  of  the  hay-mow  to  remain  on  his  person. 

a  neglect  which  he  re-retted  as  soon  as  he  saw  before 

him  the  trim  figrurc  oi  the  fair  Lottie.     The  farmer  was 

already  seated  at  the  head  of  the  table  heaping  up  liberal 

portions  of  the  tood  provided  on  plate  after  plate.!.    Fad 

one  sat  down  as  he  came  in.  without  ceremony,  throw- 

Mrs.  Enfield  was  busy  pouring  out  the  coffee,  and  a  great 
nitcher  of  milk  stood  at  her  elbow  with  glasses  roum 
It  should  any  prefer  the  fluid,  cool  from  the  cellar  to  the 
beyerage  hot  from  the  coffee-pot. 
'•  Say !  '•  cried  the  hil.^.rious  hired  man  to  all  and  sundry 
hes  a  regular  hayseed,  ain't  he?^     That's  what  I  tell 
bun.     I  guess  you  d  better  send  him  out  to  the  fields.  Mr 
I  A;field    rather  n  let  him  go  'lectioneering  " 

c.Jm  .  .?'^'L^°^''  "°  '"'■^  "^  "°^'^^'  ^"t  attended  dili- 
gently to  the  business  at  hand,  the  sooner  to  come  at  his 
own  breakfast.  A  meal  with  him  was  not  a  thing  to  he 
enjoyed,  but  a  necessary  and  regrettable  function  to  be 
finished  speedily,  so  t!:at  the  real  occupation  of  a  v^.X 
hfe  tm^jht  go  on  with  as  little  interruption  as  possible 


I«  '.5? 


"  Let  me  buy  your  fricndl)'  hdp  "         41 
"Better  let  me  j^o  over  you  witli  the  currvromh  '•  .-riprl 

ontc'red"'"  '""'  ''"-'°"""''   '""  =1"a,.im;ty  when  |,c  ro- 
up hi '•a,,r«a'^o.'''""' ' "  "'"  '"'  "'^"l  '-"•  '«•'  '°  Pvc 

"  Xovv  that's  kind  of  ve  "  snift  Pntf.Vb   ••  r 
fu:^^  T'  1   1  ,     ''-'*><-.     said  I  atrick,      for  it  s  nnt  a 

nftoi  ,    t'lc  other.     I  m  a  truthful  man.  de  vc  see? 

1 11  take  a  j-iass  of  m  k  if  vc  please  A[i«  Pvfi,.  1  ".11 
cool  and  temptsome  to  a  thirs?;  'irsc.!  ■'   ^''^'^'^'  ''  '""'^'•^ 
Ihe  girl  coloured  at  being  "thus  directly  addressed  as 

trod     iio's^'C 

;;^ugir  of  s  Hc^sr?o^^ai;hS^:^;^vt.rhi;^d 

Sn^^b^VXed  ^^'-''^'--l'i^  -  theV^dd^in'  h 
He  ho  ^^'nc  ^"^  ''■'''  considered  efYete  luxury  in 

slayery  of  a  farmhouse.  -  ^"^ 

r.7'1''  '."fr'  '"•''"•  -'"^>^'^"ly  silenced  hy  the  unexDecterl 

to  hi^n  tin  '  1  u  '^  ^  ^"'^^'^'^  ^"^^'^'-  fl'^J  not  occur 
R°n  to  tl  hrf  ?r";^  ^""^'^>'-^PP'ie^l  hh^self  dili- 
^cntn  to  the  breakfast  before  him.  Maeuirc  havin^y 
cleared  the  way  of  an  inconvenient  interlopf"  easily  kepi 

silences  ^    rejomders    or    equally  embarrassing 

"  Mr.  Byfield,  I  would  like  to  have  n  till-  uifii  ,.^« 
about  the  coming  contest,  hnt  T  suppol  you  won'  hlvJ 
very  much  tunc  to  spare  after  breakfast/'  '' ' 


;,|i  Si 


ii  It 


42 


The  Victors 


blumne'ir"'  ''"''  '"^'"  '"P''"^  ^'^^  ^^^'"^'-  ^vith  rural 

th'^I-'^^?  '''''^-  ^  ^h°"^ht'"  said  Majruirc.  not  eivinir 
the  hired  man  time  to  chuckle.  "  Ml  T  unm  t,.  i-Jwl  -^ 
where  a  list  of  the  voters  of  this  scclon'  ^  n", L^had" ° "  " 

"wJu'7'  '7^1^^'/^''  '""^  '^'^  information. 
Wei  ,  then.  I  II  drive  over  there  and  copy  it      That 
wont  take  long.     The  ne.xt  thing  will  be  to'^have  some 

Tth?  I>  r^'/'T  "^^'"  ^^"  '"^"  ^^'"^  •'»'-^'  ccrtabto  vote 
for  the  ditch  and  who  are  certain  to  vote  against  it.  I  sup- 
I    ^e  you  could  do  that  this  evening.  Mr   IlvfickP" 

th.,,  I  I  ""^•'"  u?'^""  "'^  ^"^"'*^^''  fo'-  some  moments     Al- 
hough  hospitab  e  to  those  he  knew,  he  had  no  desire 
to  burden  himself  with  the  hoard  and  lodging  of  strangers 

Lture     HeV^'-'  ^T  ^^'"  f^"'^  distance  "ahead  TnThe 
luture.     Here  were  three  unknown  men.  with  one  horso 
ami  to  judge  by  the  confident  manne      n  wS  the,> 
spokesman  mentioned  his  return,  as  if  it  were  a  setded 

£und  e7s  " tnrtl  •  '"  'rT  °^  ^'^^  farmhouse  ':' 
uuuncuess.     And  all  this  in  the  bus  est  time  of  the  vpar 

when  everyone  about  the  place  was  overworke     e  pec^aUv 

reasTw!;h"'"'  ""if^  °"^^""'^  ''^^'  wouldTe'n- 
Lm.  aT.  every  additional  chair  drawn  up  to  the 
table.     After  all.  why  should  these  three  project  them 

itr^CruZr'r'^  T  °"  ^"^-  -^--  -iSofthe" 
th^P^^amonrofth  T^l^^'f"  "lo'-nmg  light  had  dispelled 
tne  glamour  of  the  night  before,  and  the  farmer  could  nnf 
imagine  what  possessed  him  when  he  let  tTem  come  to 
his  house  as  iiidefinite  guests.  Maguire  waTched  him 
narrowly  as  with  contracted  brows  these  thoTehts  oer 
colated  through  his  mind,  and  the  voung  man "?emed^^^^^ 

by  peddling  round  the  district." 

"  Yes,  I'm  going  to  peddle  round  the  distrirt  to  fi,n,i 
out  how  the  doubtful  cases  stand,  bu  there's  no  use  "n 
my  wasting  time  finding  out  whafs  alread^  known  l" 
wont  take  you  five  minutes  to  go  over  the^list  Sme 


"  Let  inc  buy  your  friendly  help  "        43 

nnv7  ''°"^  '"1''^"'  ^''''-'  fi^"^  '""c''  interest  in  this  'lection 

nnfo!  .       ^   -^'afxuire.  and  leaning  „vcr  the  fricrl 

I^^M,ess  somehodv's  ^oin'  to  ^et  left  on  this  doa   "^         ' 
m.rL    ,  ^?"^'"^^°*'""^'^   '"'"^'-^t  in  it.  ain't  vou^-  re 
'^lund;  ?''";'■;■•  '^'^^y  ^■"""^^'^-  ^^^^  with    <  lornsim/ 

with    t    WjX.     ^  ^^  ■■■"".  ^'"  ^  ^"^  ^^''^  time  to  bother 
inat  s  It,    replied  the  farmer,  visibly  relieved  at  find 
'-  Whv  ^'7'.-"^  {'r'  ^'^"^  ^'■'^'-'"teJ  for      "  "^'" 

chalanlv'    •    V       '"    ''f''"   *^""^'""^'d    ^aniire.    non- 

S^hhei;-rr^^i;;:rr^-^ 

R  »  ,  ,*"  •™;'  ^f^"'"  »'"  e'Mion-s  over  ■ 

"  Tt,^  r     J  :>    v...   -^  "-    --"/  a-t  his  eruest 

^^  The  fund  ?    W  hat  fund  -  "  ^ 

said  k   n     '  '^u  ''t'  "'^^^  ^■°"  ^'i^'"  t  want  a  cen^   You 

HetuTu'^'l  ""'-^''^K  ■'"■■  Rame  and  saving  nothine 
He  felt  m  h.s  bones  that  tl.c  stranger  was' more  thala  a 


I'    ' 


44 


The  Victors 


match  for  all  arravtcl  a';aiii>t  liiiii.  and  Ik-  tl,  .itjjht  the 
h.ml  man  would  liavc  l)cc-n  wiser  it  lie  had  iidd  his 
iK'acr.  I  he  hired  man.  nuiiin-  no  rr>i)()n!<f  fr.jm  the 
latlKT.  for  uhoni  Ik-  was  the  champion.  ,,r  the  .son  to 
whom  hf  had  apiK-alc.l.  now  turned  to  lien  and   |iin. 

")'ni  were  there.     Didn't  he  sav  in   wonldnV  take  a 
cent  .■* 

•'  That  wa.s  certainly  my  nnder^andin;--  of  his  remark  " 
."-aid  jim. 

'•There!"  cried  the  hired  man  in  trinmph.  thankfnl 
•n  the  circumstance.^    f.,r  small  mercies.     "There,  what 
did  I  tell  yon?  " 

•MaKuire,  who  was  no  small  eater,  had  helped  him.self 
to  various  dishes  durin.,'-  the  interval,  and  had  thanked 
1-ottie  with  in.-ratiatin-.:  ix.liteness  for  another  glass  of 
milk.  a.i;an  hnn-inj-  the  colour  to  the  silent  j^drl's  checks 
l)v  Ins  frank.  admirin.Qf  ft:aze  while  he  held  forward  his 
|,-lass.  He  allowed  a  perceptihle  interval  to  pass  hefore 
lie  spoke  and  then  entirely  if-nored  the  ener-etic  hired 
man.  who  now  l)e/,'an  to  wish  he  had  kept  out 'of  the  dis- 
cussion, scentinu'  coming,'  ii,Miominv  and  defeat 

"\  on  were  fpiite  correct,  .Mr.  Ilvfield.  I  want  nothin.r 
at  all  lor  myself.  The  fund  isn't  f<.r  me  to  draw  on.  not  a 
bit  of  It.  but  lo  pay  the  just  and  re  ..nal^le  expenses  of 
the  election.  It's  always  necessar-  f  a  side  is  to  win. 
Whichever  side  ha.s  the  most  i  lev  is  the  one  tliat 
counts  the  mo.st  votes  the.se  days.' 

"  That  doesn't  sound  verv  honest,"  put  in  P.en  the  in- 
c..rruptibh',  speakin-  for  the  first  time.  The  f^irl  looked 
irom  one  to  the  other  in  won.jer.  There  was  evidently 
a  split  in  the  visitinj-  delej-ation.  and  siie  could  not  under- 
stand It.  Nevertheless  she  was  keenlv  interested  in  the 
(  iscussion.  sharinjr  her  brother's  evi.lent  a.hniration  for 
the  young  man  who.  with  every  one  ajrainst  him  held  his 
'  II.  serenely  affable,  and,  besides,  brought  a  softer  note 
into  his  vo!ce  when  he  addressed  her.  which  no  one  else 
had  ever  done. 

"My  dear  fellow,  you  simply  don't  know  what  you're 
talkin-  about.  _^  Where  is  the  dishonesty  in  paving  legiti- 
jiialt  cxpcn.sos  r    The  shug  is  on  the  other  foot.  1  imagin<?, 


•'  Let  nic  buy  your  friendly   help  "         4c; 

Take,  for  instanco,  tla-  iiccx-ssarv  board  bill.     I  ht-liov..  in 

pay."^^  n,y  way  wlurcvcr  I  .o/or  whatever  f  a.n  ,lo  n^" 

n    courso.  If  uu^ht  h,  said  that  Mr.  Hvtield.  ,.o,s...si,ur 

a  lartre   farm.   u.M   stock.,|  and   succcssfullv  cuitivatcvl 

Mudd  cunc  oasdy  s,„,,,.,rt  us  while  wo  were  eanva^'in^ 

nh.    side  of  ,,ol:,K-.,  I,m  I  say.  why  shotdd  he  anv  nior? 

an  the  others  !>     Now.  I  can't  hoard  nunid  while  Vm  on 

IS  joh.  beoanse  1  ve  ^'ot  tn  jrive  all  ,nv  attentio.i  to  the 

s  ness  ,n  hand.     I  pay  two  dollars  a  week  wiulc  I  stav 

iKrc.  an<l   I  ve  been  at  two-dollar-a-dav  hotels  where   l 

wasn     so  comfortable.     1  on,trht.  by  ri.^dus.  if  vou  talk  of 

Iiaps  A  rs.  mheld  wdl  let  nie  ..ff  for  two  dollars  a  week  " 

indeed,    said  the    hosi.itable    Mrs.    Hvfield.    "  vouVc 

not^jTonvs'  to  pay  a  cent  wlule  you  stay -here.     It^  not 

•'  "We  haven't  come  to  keepinjjr  lx>arders."  cried  Lottie 

md.f^nantly.  tor  at  this  time    people  in    he  c.tv  ne  v- 

hou,,^ht  of  spendin.t,  their  vacations  on  a  fann    '  P.vfie  I 

eue^   nor'   f '""•^'   ^"   '^'%^>-  twinkle<l    whin   h  s 
pucst  spoke  of  paymcr  for  h.s  board.     This  was  a  hor^e 

cash         -netmies  .scarce.    Sam  laui,died  under  his  breatli 

I  d  n  t  take  tins  famd.aruy  m  srood  part,  tossinj,^  her  head 
sMitly,  w.th  a  very  fetchin|r.  little  frown  on  her  br  , 
Sa,^,i  wa..  beffmnm,-  to  see  the  way  the  cjame  was  running, 
and  became  nK^re  and  more  confident  that  his  esti.nat^ 
of  the  stranger  had  not  been  a  false  one 

"That's  all  ri,q:ht,"  said   Maj-uire  airilv.     "Y,,u   see 

i.s  here  chtch  ,s  a  public  affair.  And  we  all  know  wha^ 
pnl.hc  miprovements  mean.  There's  so  much  estimated 
at  first   and  the  jobs  about  half  done  when  that  amount 

iolw.'  ^^''''J'''^''  "«  "^^"  i"  letting  it  he  unfinish  . I 
so  there  s  another  appropriation  and  nobodv  to  blame 
and  that  s  the  way  ,t  .^oes.  It  isn't  so  ,nuch  t'he  first  co.,' 
of  this  here  dree n  or  the  second  cost,  althoui^h  these  will 

vearbvv;..''"'\^%'''  "^"^'"^  ^''''■-  '^*'  ^'^^  '•^■I-- 
>car  by  year,  u.c  banks  cavinjj  m  where  the  <lecp  cut  in-. 

are,  the  silting  up  other  places,  the  swcepin-  away  o( 


46 


The  Victors 


of  t h^  w  ^  'K^'''  ''""'"^^  ^'''^'''  ^"''  •''"  that  sort 

?n,n  .        ^'  '''^^^'^  quarter  each  .,r  Iialf  a  dollar 

f.on,  M,  taxpayer  to  stop  the  beginning  of  this  drc'n 

a  ^ '..•.'  nr  cash  as   well  as   for  water?    What's   fiftv 

m    n       \    K    "r'^'    i^"'  '"■'  """^'  '^f  t'"-^  f""d  Koes  into 

\    ;;;  •; '    ^'^     ^'^T^^'  IV-^  -^V'-V  ^•''''-  ^"^^  J"^^  that  some  of 

t  ^ou   I      ,  .nto  Air.  I'.yhelcJ's  pocket    if  he  Ix^ards  the 

mn    ,1  o  ar.  goMP^  t     defeat  this  thing.      That's  how  I 

h      Irll  .';'  '"  '  '  '!?r.  ^''^^  ^f^^'  ^^■'^''""t  I'reakin-,' 

mu.     Mr/    ■     '  '   "^'r^^  ^.""^  ^^'«^^   ^  ^'""'^'  ^'"  have  one 

Tha-.'  s  '    '     -."  .    ;?.V'  ^"  ^'^y  here,  where  I'm  well  otT. 

ind     »s.  ..'r:,.   li-,  :  eld. 

..  t,,"'k1"    >on    are,"    confirmed    MaKiiirc     clu'crfMll,- 

fidently:  '         ■'""  ^P^^^'^  "P  con- 

If 'w?tven't'"th/^^"^y'''''  '•'  '"°"  -^^'''  ^  ''»'^'  ^vhile  ago. 

"You   can   have  my  vote   for  fiftv  cents"   .nirl   fi,„ 


iiT  .iOKff'iiSSHL^ 


"  Ut  me  buy  your  fricdlv  help  "  47 

^^The  i„rc<I  man  heaved  a  si^h  and   .hovecl  back  hi, 

I  ca''S'!;;^v'^ 'r  ^•'V'^'^-  '''^'-  ^'"''  ^^  «  -orker. 
for  son.,..!,?^X.^"VrrcS.^^-^"  '  '  ^"  ^°^''"^ 

tbev  ha.I  received  '"  '"^'^^  ^^'^  ^'^^  ^'^'^on-nodation 

andl.r!S.:^^r;-;;:;;!:!J!^Lr^^^^ 

wl^^IhllTnlSriir"'  ''''  ''''>'  ''^^^•'  ^'^^-'^  approach. 

''  Well,  j^entlcnien."  he  cried  on  seei. 
to  have  a  1  ttic  confab,  you  said.  V, 
over.  I  am  ready  to  talk  on  any  subicv 
next  meal  time."  '   '""J*^' 

..  '.',)^'^  ''-'^^■^"■.^  anythlniT  to  di.^oi,.-,     saui   Hen    slowlv 

All  we  want  is  our  licence   in,?  M,^n  ,.,  '^ioul>. 

up  our  bin  and  ,.«  on  our  u^v"        '"  '''  '''''''''''  ''  ^^^-^ 

las!  S'^'e^^u.'^lr ';;:•, '^ 

over  it  -^     Wbv  c-   ■>     -1  ^  ^  ^"^'^'^  ^'^^'ry  mornin- 

lastavveek         lae   o  f^i'r"/'"L-^""'  ^"^'^'^  ^''^^  ^^ 
and  savin-  to  ^ysdf    'h'"\^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

fou^htVor\  terbV'.kfaJt   7/      i^"Tl!'""^-^  '^  ^^ 
•_   I  ami  wreakra.st.     1  won r'er  which  H  I1V1-?    t* 

-mplv  go.  ,0  hav.  ,hU  licence  .ill  .f.^r  elcc"  offo.  ^h;" 


"V  them.  •■  we  wire 

^'  that  breakfa.st's 

inder  the  sun  till 

■'«iid   Ben,  slowlv. 


<,. 


4» 


48 


The  Victors 


oi>i)ositinn  will  be  sure  to  pounce  on  me  for  it ;  'twould  be 
hiu\  politics  not  to.  and  some  one  is  bound  to  think  of  it 
You  see.  1  ve  «ot  to  take  to  the  peddlinjj  tack  for  a  while 
at  hrst  and  they  d  be  dead  certain  to  nab  ine  before  I  ^ot 
through.  Say.  boys,  yon  must  let  me  keep  this  paper  for 
another  week.  I'm  a  peaceable  man  and  don't  want  to 
be  always  fighting." 

"  We  are  not  going  to  fight  for  it.    The  licence  is  ours. 
Jt  you  refuse  to  give  it  up,  we  won't  sav  another  word 
about  It   but  will  go  to  the  nearest  justice  of  the  peace 
and  make  comi)laint.     Then  we  will  either  get  it  or  not 
as  the  law  holds." 

"How  will  you  explain  vour  hoodwinking  of  the  law 
at  Ann  Arbor?    I  thought  we  thrashed  all  this  out  before. 
VV  hat  s  the  use  of  going  over  the  old  ground  ?  " 
''We  will  tell  ti.e  truth  and  take  our  chances." 
Maguire  saw  that  they  meant  it.    l^le  thrust  his  hands 
deep  in  his  trousers    pockets,  and  with  bent  head  and 
a  frovvn  on  his  brow  walked  up  and  down  before  them 
tor  a  few  moments,  seemingly  meditating  on  the  situa- 
tion. 

"  Look  here,  boys,"  he  said  at  last,  "vou've  got  me  in  a 
hole,  and  I  know  it.  and  you  know  it.  so  there's  no  use 
of  me  pretending  that  I'm  up  on  tjie  surface  of  the  earth 
when  I  m  not.  Your  position  is  legal,  and  mine  isn't. 
so  there  s  \vhere  the  trouble  comes  in.  A  man  whose  hx 
isnt  according  to  law's  no  good,  unless  he's  got  monev. 
and  1  ain  t  got  enough.  Now  whv  can't  you  fellows  be 
decent  and  jump  in  and  help  a  fellow?  I'll  divide  un 
square,  so  helj)  me.    Yes,  I  will— straight." 

"You  say  you  are  going  to  work  for  nothing,"  said 
Jim.     so  in  that  case  there  will  be  nothing  to  divide  " 

Don  t  you  make  any  mistake.  There'll  be  something 
to  divvy  before  this  ditch  question  is  settled.  You  can 
bet  your  boots  on  that." 

''  If  my  boots  are  safe  on  such  a  wager,  then  vou've 
hed^to  these  people,  so  how  can  you  expect  us  tS  trust 

At  the  word  "  lied  "  Pat's  eyes  flashed  dangerously  anrl 


"  Let  me  buy  your  friendly  help  "  ^q 

Iiis  ri.srht  fist  clenched,  but  he  seemed  to  null  himself  in 
.mmechately  after,  and  he  replied  smootllu  enough  " 
f.11.  '  "';^^'''y«  ^'^^^  on  a  pal.  Xow.  l.jok  here  vou 
fellows  you  re  crampiu.tr  „,e.  You're  not  giviu^r  m'  a  fair 
.how :  honour  bn^ht,  you  ain't.  Vou  can  queer  mv  Jame 
r.qlt  here,  .nd  I  don  t  see  how  I  can  help  mvserifvon 
sliut  down  on  me.     Xow,  all  I  want  to  n  ake  L  a    iv.  k 

you Tr^  Un"'  "'"  ^''  ^i"'  ^^"^''^  «f  ^^-'-  n-ney  do  Vt 
you  fret.     Why  can  t  you  be  easy  on  a  pc.r.r  devil  and  no 

c  a^ce?'^'"  '  '"'"'■'  '""'"'^y  ^'^'^^'^  vouv-e^ot  the 

n  e  a  o  o"f  harm""  V  ""^'^  '7''''  "^  ^°°^'  ^"^^  '^  will  b 
Trtf.  Of  harm.  Xow,  see  here,  fellows.  You  are  two 
friends,  and  you  don't  like  me.   I  can  see  tha       I     ke 

haven't  T-  T'  ^'^^'^^  ''^''  ^  ^«°^'  schooling,  and  I 
Inn  .  '  ^°^  """""•'^  ^"  ^'^^P  '^'^  ^^"t  mv  ten  fin-'ers 
and  about  an  ounce  of  brains  to  tell  'em  what  to  do  You 
fellow,  amt  gettm.c:  alonff  verv  well  in  the  world    bu^ 

Sr"  fteir  "'!'"'""•  ^?''">-""'^^  chumVw'h  ea 
fZ^)  r         ■'^°"'  ^"'''  ^"  ^  '^'"^^^l^'  f'evil  that  never  had  a 

tnat  s  a  mighty  lot.     I  ve  been  watching  you  two   and  T 
can  see  that  youse'd  stand  bv  each  other  thro  Si  thick 

mii[  mm,  an   don  t  vou  forget  it 

;;Look  here.  Mr.\Maguire-""put  in  ]]en. 
^^  i  at  s  tne  name,  or  Patrick  for  short." 

^zz^^"  '■°"  "^ '" "°- "-  ■'-  '-V  -s  rS';; 

;;  True  for  you.     Never  a  truer  word  spoken  " 
Here  were  we  two,  who  stood  bv  vou  as  stauncliiv  is 

^"4^"^"*'  't'-  ■•';"'""^"'  "^"■'■"  °<  -  ''"  ''    V 
se  n  >ou  hefore.     We  got  you  out  of  the  hole  at  sonm 

nsk  to   ourselves,  for  you    have  threatened   us  once   or 


1:11 


■A:' 

1 

1; 

,1 

iji 


50 


The  Victors 


'4 


I 


twice  since  with  the  consequences  of  what  we  did  \'ery 
well;  how  d:d  you  repay  us?  You  jumped  on  us  and 
knocked  us  down  on  the  road  and  held  us  there  because 
vye  asked  back  what  was  our  own.  A  man  who  will  act 
like  that  doesn't  need  to  wonder  whv  he  hasn't  any 
friends.    That  isn't  the  way  to  make  "em." 

"  By  the  holy  smoke,  Ren.  you're  just  dead  right     I'm 
a  mean,  low-down,  insignificant  cuss.     There's  a  streak 
in  me  that  ougiit  to  be    kicked  clean  out  of  this  here 
county.     I  know  it,  and  I've  said  it  to  mvself  a  dozen 
times.     Uhen  a  fellow  comes  up  to  me  spitting  on  his 
Hands  I  hne  out  for  his  jaw  without  ever  thinking  anv 
more  of  the  consequences  than  I  think  about  breathing 
You  see,  you  fellows  sort  of  squared  up  to  me  last  night, 
an    1  forgot  in  a  minute  what  you  had  done  for  me   so 
help  me,  I  did.     Mean?     I'm  so  blamed  mean  that 
But  say !    W  hen  you  meet  a  fellow  like  me,  what  does  the 
college  say  you  ought  to  do  with  him  ?    Give  him  another 
punch  m  the  head,  kick  him  down  a  bit  further  in  the 
ditch  and  make  him  meaner  than  ever  when  he  gets  out, 
or  say  to  him,  as  you  said  just  now,  encouraging  like' 
Fat,  you  re  a  dirty  God-forsaken  whelp ;  whv  don't  you 
brace  up  and  quit  being  a  thief  or  a  sneak?'    Then  if 
there  s  any  good  in  a  fellow,  talking  soft  and  soothin- 
like  that  to  him  will  bring  it  out.  and  if  there's  not,  if 
he  s  sneak  and  puppy  clean  through,  whv  vou've  done 
what  you  could,  haven't  you?    And  you  feel' better  after 

While  this  appeal  was  being  made,  Jim  turned  his  eyes 
from  Maguire  and  ga.  -'  at  his  friend,  a  slight  smile  part- 
ing his  hps.  He  knew  the  serious  undercurrent  of  Ben's 
nature :  his  sensitive  regard  for  his  dutv  toward  his  neigh- 

r"/i  ,  ^^''v!'  '^  u^'  ^''"^'  ^''^^'  ^'^^l'^  suile,  or  intuition 
that  led  the  ghb  talker  off  on  this  line  Monro  was  unable 
to  guess,  but  he  was  well  aware  that  nothing  could 
be  more  effective  so  far  as  Ren  was  concerned,  and  he 
watched  the  result  of  the  other's  breathless  words  with 
amused  interest. 

"What  do  you  want  us  to  do?"  said  Ben  in  a  low 
voice. 


I( 


Let  me  buy  your  friendly  help  " 


enough.     What  litter  .lisVrir,,*^  of   pcddlmg.      Good 

or  p'l-r  £^-  -p^rt^^>:zrs:; 

Hold  on.   [ini  "  rrinrl  T^,»,    " 

pack.  MajjuireP"     ^"^"S:cment.     \ou  ve  got  a  shoulder 

you  boys  faViyp"  r„;  i^SattoS"  ""'  """= 
ers.     That's  the  sormt  !^f  Mattering  your  custom- 

em.  butter  Vm  vL,  tendTo  thTt '  f  ""^!f "     ^""^'• 

themselves.     I  may  be  nhl  "..  *'  *^'^  ^''°^'  ^^'^  ^ell 

we  go  along  ami  if  vnn  fn.  T'-  "T^"  ^  '^'"^  "'•  ^wo  as 
you'll  fincZV  poin  e-  s  vorh"  1  f ''?^'"^  *"  ^'^^  ^"^'"-^"^ 
you  haven't  been  r., sin .^n'         '''"'"^-  *^-     ^'^'°^'  '^«vs. 

f— ?r.  -e"-?  ?•— «•  Scfr - 

T-n'7°\T''^"''  ''^  ''^'■^  °"  anvbody  if  vou  tried    Ren 
I II  do  v.hatever  you  do.  of  course  ;  bi,t  see  here   S'<, 
you  ve  been  talking  ,oud  about  rn'on^^  eTer "since  tf me'^ 


-.'    t 


52 


The  Victors 


you.  You  seem  to  know  how  to  make  it  and  to  despise  us 
who  don't.  Why  not  buy  our  ht)rse  and  -rit,',  and  we'll 
throw  in  tli-  Hcence?  V\l-'I1  sell  voii  the  whole  outfit  for 
twenty  dollirs." 

"  So  help  me.  boys,  I  was  only  blowinc:.  1  alwavs  blow 
about  money.  If  people  think  you  really  need  anything 
they  won't  i;ive  you  a  hand ;  if  they  think  you're"  flush, 
then  it's  all  ri.rrht." 

"  What  Hen  has  just  said  disproves  that." 
"  Present  company  e.xeepted,  boys,  alwavs.  I  got  two 
dollars  out  of  that  fresh  uisi)ector  at  Ann  Arbor,  and  be- 
fore that  I  had  something  less  than  five  dollars.  That's 
my  pile,  less  than  >.ven  dol'ars.  all  told.  Search  me  if 
you  don't  believe  me.  Then,  there's  the  stuflF  in  my  kit, 
but  th.it  don't  amount  to  much.  I  ain't  no  Vanc'erbilt  in 
dis'^uise.  you  know,  thous^h  I  may  look  like  the  family, 
l?ut  I'll  tei;  you  what  111  do.  If 'you  boys  stand  by  me 
till  this  cruel  war  is  over,  I'll  t^niarantec  to  give  you 
twenty-five  dollars  for  the  mu'e  and  army  waggon,  and 
you  can  do  what  you  darn  please  with  the  ammunition. 
Is  it  a  bargain?  " 

"Oh,  we  won't  hold  you  to  that, unless  vou  \vant  to  keep 
to  it  yourself.  I  don't  see  where  there's  anv  twenty- 
five  dollars  to  be  made  in  this  contest,  but  we  won't  desert 
unt-l  the  votes  are  counted.  After  that,  you  understand, 
you  are  to  let  us  have  back  what  belongs  to  us,  or  else 
buy  out  the  business.' 

"  All  right.  IJen,  signed,  sealed  and  delivered,  witness 
our  hand,  so  help  me.  And  you're  white  men,  you  two, 
clear  through  and  away  out  beyond.  I'll  deal  square  with 
you,  but  you  mustn't  kick  if  I  do  some  tall  talk 
to  other  folks.  Of  course  I'm  not  in  this  thing  for 
my  health,  and  if  old  fJyfield  or  anyone  else  in  this  district 
thinks  I  am,  that  simply  shows  he  wants  to  get  something 
for  nothing,  which  is  against  the  rules  of  the  peddling 
business.  Xobody  would  ever  be  taken  in  in  this  world 
if  it  wasn't  for  their  trying  to  bunco  somebody  else.  The 
fanning  community  always  loses  money  thmking  it  is 
getting  a  lump  of  gold,  and  then  thev  feel  disappointed 
when  they  find  it's  only  a  brick.     But  we've  had  talk 


"  Let  me  buy  your  friendly  help  "  53 

enou-h.  now  Icfs  sret  to  work.     We'll  hitch  nn  fho  f,.-,n, 

ii!!  xt;:"7^!^-^^  "^^^  ^'-  cuitivat'^tn;!:.'^H;u" 

tracks  if  1 1:'"'  ^'"""  ^"  ''''  «^-"^-  -'■'>•  1  drop  in  ray 


\:< 


:^ 


-( I 


v'i 


■I 
,1 


I-' 


CHAPTER  IV 

"i  ham;  !i..\hkki:d  a  lady" 

It  was  three  o'clock  and  the  summer  afiemoon  shim- 
mered with  a  lieat  that  seemed  visibk-  as  it  throbijcd  above 
tlie  parched  earth,  tlierefore  the  bhiids  over  the  parlour 
w.ndows    were    drawn    to    keep    the    room    dark    and 
cool.     Lottie   was   neatly   ..ressed   any   time  of  the   dav 
you  happened  to  moot  her,  but  in  the  afternoon    wheii 
a    lull    came    m    the    day's    work,    she    l)lossi.:ned    out 
almost    equal  to   one  of    the    coloured    plates  in    Peter- 
sons  Ma-azinc,   which  arrived    from   the  cultured   citv 
of  Ihdadelphia  once  a  month    and  thus  kept  the  farrii 
mformed    of  what    the  outside   world  was    wearin"-      \ 
complete  hv:ns:  up  to  the  fiforjjfeousness  of  those  fashion- 
plates  was  next  to  impossible,  when  the  limited  resources 
of  the  neiq:hbourhood  and  the  scantv  amount  of  monev  at 
the  gfirl  s  disposal  were  taken  into  consideration  hut  never- 
theless the  ma-azine  had  its  influence,  and  the  effect  was 
fH?rhaps  more  charming  and  certainly  more  subdued  than 
If  the  mstructions  from  these  fascinating-  pa-es  had  been 
tiilly  earned  out.     Of  course  Sunday  was  the  real  test 
of  all  this  array,  and  then,  perhaps.  Peterson's  was  out- 
distanced, but  every  afternoon  produced  the  picture  of  an 
amazin-ly  pretty  s:irl  most  admirably  prarmented— a  spoi- 
les.s  collar  at  the  plump  throat,  surrounded  by  a  daiiit\ 
ribbon.     She  wore  a  licrht  white  muslin  dress.  throut,di 
the    semi-transparent    .>?leeves    of    which    could    be    just 
discerned  a  sup^^estion  of  rounded  arm.  all  in  all  a  cool 
pretty  and  luringfly  lovable  jjirl.  kindlv  and  sweet,  living 
the  healthy  if  arduous  life  of  the  farm,  pure  as  a  calla 
Itly,  with  possibilities  of  character  latent,  needinjj  only 
the  vivifying  touch  of  opportunitv  to  betrin  their  develop- 
ment, as  the  severing  of  a  silken  thread  permits  the  wait- 
54 


H 


*^Mw 


"  I  have  flattered  a  laJy.  ^c 

injr  sliip  oil  the  ways  of  the  buihUng  yard  to  ghde  into  the 
expectant  ocean.  Lottie  was  an  American  ^'irl,  brought 
up  in  tile  same,  refreshing  moral  atmosphere  of  the 
coiuitry.  sunilar  to  thousands  of  others  scattered  up  and 
down  the  length  of  the  land,  yet,  notwithstanding  this 
multitude,  the  yonng  man  of  destinv,  her  man  of  destiny, 
when  he  arrives  cannot  he  persuaded  that  there  is  such 
another  in  the  whole  world. 

Coming  from  her  room  into  the  parlour  Lottie  heard 
the  gate  click,  and,  running  to  the  front  window,  peered 
cautiously  past  the  edge  of  the  blind  to  learn  who  the 
visitor  was.     She  saw  Maguire  come  swinging  up  the 
walk,  his  chin  in  the  air,  his  hat  ^et  back  on  his  head. 
Ills  whole  apiK>arance  that  of  a  man  well  satisfied  with 
himself  and  contented   with  existence.     She  learned  bv 
the  dust  on  his  boots  that  he  had  come  some  dist.mce  on 
foot,  and  wondered  what  had  happened  to  his  two  com- 
rades with  their  horse  and  waggon.  She  drew  back,  fear- 
ing he  might  see  her,  and  a  moment  later  heard  him  enter 
the  dining-room,  pausing  for  an  instant  on  the  threshold 
when  he  found  it  tenantless.     "  He  wants  something  to 
eat.    said  the  girl  to  herself,  and,  hospitablv  intent,  opened 
the  door  between  parlour  and  dining-room' 

"Ah  Miss  IWfield,"  cried  Alaguire,  doffing  his  hat, 
which  he  had  not  taken  off  on  entering  the  house  "  I 
thought  at  first  there  was  nobodv  at  home." 

"  There  isn't  except  mother  and  myself,  and  she  is  rest- 
ing.    I  suppose  you  haven't  had  your  dinner?" 

"  Oh  yes.  thank  you,  two  of  them ;  happened  to  strike 
the  early  lunch  house  and  the  late  lunch  house  one  after 
the  oth<^r,  and  in  the  right  order,  too.     I've  done  first-rate 
to-day  in  the  matter  of  meals,  and  T  hope  mv  luck  will 
keep  up.     Diit  I  know  it  won't.     Some  dav  Fll  come  on 
the  late  dinner  house  first,  and,  leaving  before  the  horn 
IS  blown,  reach  the  early  meal  house  just  when  the  dishes 
are  cleared  away.     Dinner  hours  in  the  farming  districts 
should  be  regulated  by  law,  and  then  pedlars,  tramps  and 
canvassers  wouldn't  get  left.     Say,  Miss  Byfield    I  col- 
lared that  voter's  list  all  right,  took  a  copy  of  'it,  and 
now  all  I  want  is  to  get  the  names  ticked  off  " 


I   a 


•i- 
^5 


m 


56 


Tlie  Victor!! 


wonT^i''"^'''',"  f''^  *°  '^^  ""y  ^''^^h*''--  <»""'t  von?  lie 
wont  [yc  back  from  the  fields  for  some  hours  yet  but  h 
you  went  out  there—"  ^     '  " 

"  Xo.  he  wouldn't  like  that,  and  then  he's  busy  and  it'<; 
a  puy  to  disturb  him.    1  l,a,e  bothering  a  I)usv  man     Ym 
know  all  these  people  on  the  list,  don't  vou  •^' 

on  iuul'Z"'''"'  "Vl""'  '^''  "•  '  '"^'^"^  '^^'^  ^'  ^''"'•^•1' 

and  r      r  •,  i         ''  ^  ^T'  ''^''-^  ^^^"-  ^^^ers  not  so  well 
and  the  rest  bv  name  only.  . 

"  Well.  now.  .Miss  llyfield.  if  vou  wouldn't  mind  mav 
anclZT  i  '  '"•  "'^  ^'"  '^"""^  '''^^'>-  '-  vote  oT'our  sicie' 
tt"Jo\'i:r^rrVSr  aVS  J''^""-  -^•^"  ^^  '  ^^-'^"'^  "-^' 

p^k^nirtiL;^^ 

n.^ht  and  they  are  all  ^oin,.,  to  vote  with  nn   father  •' 
<:..        ^^'    ?^'  '  J"'^  '*^^  t'^^'^et ;  just  what  I  want      You 
see    wc  wdl  sort  of  hew  this  list  out  in  the  ro mrh  to 

?o  r'r^/l   '""  r  r'  '^  ^'"^  *^"^"^h  to  help  me.  an!  then 
our  lather  and  I  can  put  the  finishing  touches  on  i     1 1 
will  save  hun  a  lot  of  trouble   if  you  go  over  U  fi?st  and 
S:.ve  me  some  kind  of  idea  where  I  stand  " 

parlour?  "^  "  '^'^  ""^^^  ^  ''"•     ^^^"'^  ^^^  '^^'  '"to  the 
"  Thanks.    Don't  mind  if  I  do." 
He  threw  his  hat  into  a  corner  and  followed  the  -irl 

urth^"bi;nd"'^n  •■"""•  ''''  ^"'"^'  '-  ^  window/pulm  ! 
up  the  blind   and  lettmg  m  the  light.     She  invited  him  to 
a  seat  at  the  arcular  table  that  stood  in  the  ce mre  o     1 
room   covered  wnh  a  dark  brown  cloth    emb  o idered  a 

ble  Tnd  on  tit'  r''Vi''''  '^''^  '^^  '  i-..e  farmf 
liio  e,  and  on  the  top  of  that    an  almost  equally  hiu-e 
photograph  album,  which  gave  evidence        £1  been 
m  use  rather  more  frequently  than  the  vc     ne  tS  suo 
ported  .t.    There  were  various  other  books  sea  tered  aboui 
the  table,  such  as  "  Yowett  on  the  Sheen  "  an,i  Z       .? 
n>  a  still  more  uncomfortable  Ittitud^'^^^n^;  ^n^tL' 
Bee       Lottie  sat  down  opposite  her  visitor         ^ 

If  you  will  read  the  list,"  she  said,  '•  I  will  tell  vou 
those  who  were  at  the  meeting."  -^  " 


"I  have  flattered  a  lady"  1,7 

"  There  now.    Go  ahead." 

Instead   of   poing  ahead   as   invited,  or   rather   Ln,it,'- 

Zn^u^       ^'^  ''""   '"   ''"  '•^"^•^'   S^^^'-'^l  -t  the  girl 
"  I  wish  my  name  was  on  this  hst  " 
1  11  put  It  on.  if  vou  hke.     Whv>" 

tlK;  voters-  hst  I'd  be  living  hie.  that's  all  "    '^  ^  ''"'  "' 

tluJ  ovcMe'nJ^'"^  ■"'"  ^V'"''  ''"^^  ^">'  t'-«"'^J^"  ^ettin^^ 
unm  to  vote  as  you  want  them  ?  "  s'-ii'",> 

"Oh, that wili be  no  trouble  at  all   at  all     Vn„    1    1 
^cs   It  s  pretty  lively  sometimes,  when  the  sleVhinT'- 

pairinj'off :',  .'SI'L::"!'  "™"'  -■•  -■     ^hey  do  be 
■•  Parini;  off  apple  pecliiiRs.  ves.- 

.hi.  world  on  acco-un'rof'!;;-  i^^le.'r '.■rb:..r«L:!:° 


58 


The  Victors 


'  I 


\'i     i 


h 


"  That  apples  should  keep  on  makinp  trouble  ?  " 

"  No,  no.  The  very  opposite  is  what  I  was  ffoinp  to 
say.  It  is  but  right  that  the  apples  should  repair  the  dam- 
age.   How  is  that  for  a  joke  ?    I  did  that  all  by  myself." 

"Beautiful.  That's  nearly  as  good  as  our' hired  man 
could  do.  But  why  don't  you  read  out  the  names  on  the 
list,  now  that  I'm  all  ready  to  copy  them?  " 

"  To  tell  the  truth  I've  come  to  a  complete  stand  at  the 
very  first  name.  And  I  don't  know  how  to  settle  the 
question  at  all.  at  all." 

"  Can't  you  read  it?    Let  me  see." 

"  Oh.  I  can  read  it  all  right  enough,  but  I  was  just 
wondering  what  the  first  name  of  his  daughter  was.  It 
was  one  of  the  places  I  visited  to-dav.  and  the  daughter 
was  the  prettiest  girl  I've  seen  in  tcii  rears'  time  and  in 
the  sixty-five  years  of  my  long  life  before  that." 

"  Was  that  over  at  Spe'nce's?  Her  name  is  Sarah,  and 
they  do  say  she's  the  best-looking  girl  in  this  part  of 
Michigan." 

"  Then  they're  no  judges  of  beautv.  The  name  I  head 
the  list  with  is  Mr.  John  Byfield." 

^'  Very  well.     I've  got  that  down.     What's  the  next?  " 

"  The  next  is  the  name  of  his  daughter.  That's  what 
I  wanted  to  know,  so  I  might  feel  actiuainted  like." 

"  Oh ! " 

"  My  own  name's  Patrick."  the  young  man  went  on 
hurriedly,  fearing  he  had  oflf ended  the  girl  by  being  some- 
what precipitate  on  a  very  short  acquaintance.  "  and  the 
only  objection  I  have  to  it  is  that  it  sounds  Irish,  which 
leads  people  to  make  mistakes,  for  there  is  nothing  Irish 
about  me  at  all.  at  all.  except  the  trifling  fact  that  I  was 
born  on  the  island,  which  should  not  be  used  as  evidence 
against  me,  because  I  was  so  young  at  the  time.  I  plea  1 
the  minor  act." 

The  young  man's  apprehension  grew  keen,  as  the  girl 
made  no  reply.  Her  head  was  bent  over  the  paper  on 
which  she  .scribbled  in  silence  with  apparent  aimlessness. 
Was  she  offended?  Had  his  question  been  impertinent? 
How  do  people  in  high  society  acquire  knowledge  of  each 
Other's  names  except  by  being  told  or  asking  honestly  and 


"  I  have  flattered  a  lady  "  59 

plainly  for  the  information:'     He  fdt  Imrrihly  at  a  dis- 
advantage.     If  he  hatl  only  .".skcd  1,1c  coUcirc  bovs  that 
mornms:  they  might  have  ^'iven  hi,n  a  h^nt  rci,'ardinff  the 
correct  method  „f  proce.U.re.  hut  hv  had  anticipated  no 
such    prcd,camc.,.t    as    this.     It    u,.s    the    while    dress 
hat  had  done  It.  with  the  pink  ribb<.n  at  th.e  throat  and 
the  gleam  of  fair  plump  arms  through  liie  thin  muslin. 
He  had  a  susceptible  heart,  and  the  crisis  had  been  un- 
e.xiKcted.     What  should  he  do  now?     Wait  for  her  to 
speak?     What  if  she  did  not  speak,  but  rise  "uddcn!? 
and  left  him    sitting  there,  with  no    chance  of    making 
amends?     Should  he  apolo,i;ise?    That  seemed  about  the 
only  thing  to  do.  but  for  once  the  words  failed  him.    The 
deadlock   had   rome  so  suddenly.     A  moment  ago  they 

TnTn       ?f"'''f  ^^'-'^  ^''^''^''''  ^"^'  "°^  t''^-'-^'  was  silence 
and  a  t)ent  head. 

The  demure  Miss  Lottie  dared  not  raise  her  head  until 
her   tumultuous   thoughts  adjusted   themselves   and   she 
had  determined  what  was  the  proix-r  thing  to  do  in  the 
circumstances      Was  this,  then,  the  advent  of  a  Lu? 
1  he  coming  of  the  beau  was  a  standard  subject  for  disl 
aiss.on  and  comment  anions  the  girls  of  her  acquaintance, 
mingled  with  accusation,  indignant  denial  at  first,  usuali; 
followed  by  proof  indisputable,  such  as  the  walking  home 
from  church  together  in  the  sight  of  all  the  world  and 
then  reluctant  admission  when  the  facts  were  too  plainly 
demonstrable  to  be  further  successfully  disputed.     Some 
girls,  uKleul.  Haunted  the  acquired  beau  defiantly  from  the 
very  first,  but  as  a  general  rule  it  was  goo<l  fo'rm  -  .  dis- 
claim strenuously  and  then  admit  blushingly.  with  a  con- 
siderable interval  between  the  two  con  '   VnL      The  new 
possession  of  a  lK«au  involved  teasing  l,\   a  c-irls  com- 
pamons,  and  voluble  comments,  which  were  gratifying  or 
i|a.nfu     according  to  the  callousness  or  sensitiveness  of 
the  victim. 

But  besides  this  material  world  around  her  Lottie  was 
also  the  inhabitant  of  another  sphere.  Peterson's  Maga- 
zine dealt  in  fiction  as  well  as  fashion,  and  the  cirl 
remembered  with  a  sudden  palpitation  at  her  tliroat  that 
on  the  question  of  the  name,  many  of  the  matrimonial 


HI 

■f    !• 


Ill 

itti 


1  ! 

i 

l: 

■ 

I'- 

['\  i 

$ 

6o 


Tlie  Victors 


cases    in    that    dcIiKhtful.    alliirinjr.    imaginative    world 
turned.    "  May  1  call  you  (iladys?  "  the  vounf,'  earl  would 
say  as  they  rode  together  through  the'  woods  or  along 
the  winding  avenues  of  the  ancestral  park,  and  the  noble- 
man  usually   reached    forward   and   touched   the   white 
hand  of  Lady  Gladys  as  it  rested  like  a  snowflake  on 
the  horse's  nianv.     Sometimes  the  fateful  question  was 
asked  as  the  pair  strolled  along  the  margin  of  a  romantic 
stream ;  sometimes  on  a  balcony  overl(K)king  a  silent  city 
street,  while  the  nnisic  of  an  orchestra  mingled  with  the 
sound  of  dancing  feet  in  the  ballroom  from  which  they 
had  just  stolen  away ;  sometimes  on  a  shipwrecked  vessel, 
or  in  a  dangerous  position  in  the  high  mountains;  but 
whenever  or  wherever  it  happened  it  always  denoted  a 
crisis  in  the  lives  of  two  young  jK'oplc.  and  much  de- 
pended  on   the   lady's   reply.      I'iction,   in   this   respect, 
differed  from  the  actualities  of  life,  for  in  the  country, 
everyljody  called  everybody  else  by  his  or  her  Christian 
name,  and  no  imjxirtance  was  attached  to  the  doing  so. 
In  truth,  when  Maguire  himself  had  addressed  the  girl 
as  "  Miss  r.ytield."  the  unusual  ceremony  of  the  appella- 
tion had  brought  the  colour  to  her  cheek.s.  and  she  feared 
her  brother  might  notice  the  incident,  to  make  it  the  after 
foundation  of  rallyin,^  remark.     l'"inally  she  looked  up  at 
the  young  man  opix)site  her   and  said'  with  the  glimmer 
of  a  smile  on  her  warm  lips  : 

"  The  first  name  on  the  li.st  is  John  Hy field.  What  is 
the  next?  I  have  written  down  the  one  you  gave  me." 
"  Ah,  ye've  written  down  more  than  that,  for  I've  been 
watching  ye."  cried  Patrick,  jubilantly,  overjoyed  to  see 
that  she  had  not  taken  offence  as  he  had  for  a  moment 
feared.  "  Ve've  written  the  name  Charlotte  three  or  four 
times,  and  a  mighty  pretty  name  it  is,  and  ye've  written 
down  Lottie  a  dozen  times,  and  I  like  that  even  better 
than  the  other." 

"  You  shouldn't  watch  people  when  they're  writing," 
reproved  the  demure  Lottie;  "it  isn't  manners." 

•'  When  one  writes  as  nice  as  you — I  wish  I  coukl 
do  it  half  so  well — it's  a  sin  not  to  watch  and  take  lessons. 
I'm  always  trying  to  improve  my  mind,  de  ye  see.'*" 


I  liave  Hatterecl  r;     Ay" 


(n 
.    "  You  should  go  to  a  writing  school  some  winter  an,! 

"Are  voii  foj  ,|  of  read^v'"  ncL--,!  r  «♦.;«    u       ■    n 
and  somewhat  incons.nu.  nth-.  U,!"^  s  ^ri  "\^;%S":^^^^ 
st.ll  running  ,n  Iut  .nn.d.  althong!,  none  recurroU  tha 
offered  any  g,u,lana  m  the  :,r.se,U  situation. 

Not  of  rcaci.n^^  hcoks.     The/re  trash,  and  there's 

m  irZ  nTh  '  '  ^°'"^»^'"g  ^vorth  your  money  .-ul 
nnml  J°''?  "^^hmg.  I'm  afraid  that's  as  Irish  as  -c 
name,  for  ,f  ,t   cost  nothing   how  can  it    be  v    - 1   -u  "• 

Z"^  ?"J  ""^^^  ^  '"'^^"  '^-  ^hat  there's  soL  n,.  .  :, 
the  project,  for  a  man  says  one  thine  when  '  •;>.:. 

another,  and  although  he  doesn't  want^lCto  ..„  ':-i.i 
hLMf;"^'"f  ^''\^'  ■'''^^•^>  ■  «'^^^«  vou  a  cleu  -n      ...      f 

to  me.     Ihen.  ye  see.  if  vou  put  totrether  wh-u  a  .     ,- 
says  and  what  he  thinks—"  ^  '^^  ^  "  "" 

^Jj  What  you  think  he  thinks."  interrupted  and  corrected 

fh'^u'1  ^u'  ^^-  '^"''  ^^'^^'^  •'"St  the  point  that  make^ 
the  whole  thmg  a  puzzle  and  gives  interest  to  the  game 
what  you  thmk  he  thinks,  and  then  form  vou r  own  con 
elusions  about  what's  really  in  his  mind.'  you  can  nlav 
with  h.m  and  turn  him  the  way  you  want  him  to  go  J  Ue 
he  beheves  all  the  time  he  is  going  the  way  hel  en  ed 
from  the  very  first.  It  has  aM  the  merit  an^il  the  am^e- 
ment  of  dnvmg  a  contrary  pig  to  market." 

''  h  .c  what  good  does  it  do?  " 

"  The  pig?    Ye  sell  him  when  you  get  there  " 


a      : 


«.'• 


62 


The  Victors 


I! 


"  No,  the  men.     You  can't  sell  a  man  as  you  would  a 

"  I'm  not  so  sure  of  that.  The  world's  wide,  and  I 
haven't  had  time  to  see  very  nnich  of  it  yet,  but  I'll  see 
more  before  I'm  throut;h  with  it.  and  it'll  see  more  of  me. 
I  don't  just  know  what's  to  be  done,  but  this  is  a  rich 
country  and  it's  goings  to  be  ricl'.or,  and  it  owes  a  good 
living  to  Patrick  Maguire.  lle'.«  going  to  collect  that  liv- 
ing if  he  can,  and  that's  what  he's  practising  now.  I'm 
at  the  writing  school,  but  what  I'm  going  to  do  with  the 
trick  when  I've  learnt  it  I'm  not  just  sure.  If  you  know 
how  to  get  men  to  do  what  ye  want  there's  money  in  it, 
and  I'll  bet  niy  hat  on  that." 

"  You  are  learning  how  to  control  men.  Are  you  go- 
ing to  do  the  same  with  women?  " 

"  I  want  to  understand  all  men  and  one  woman.  That's 
my  ambition,  and  I'm  thinking  i)erha])s  the  one  woman 
will  be  more  hard  to  learn  than  all  the  men.  Ye  see  I 
haven't  practised  with  the  sex  yet." 

"  I  suppose  you  a        ery  confident  you  will  succeed." 

"  Indeed  and  I  am  not.  It's  a  project  I  know  noth- 
ing about  at  all.  at  all,  but  I  have  hopes  that  some  kind 
young  lady  will  learn  me.  Ye  see,  on  account  of  my 
own  bashful  and  retirir.g  nature,  I  may  not  be  able  to 
do  myself  justice  when  it  comes  to  the  point.'' 

"  I  don't  think  you  need  trouble  yourself  about  that. 
People  will  never  notice  your  lack  of  conceit  if  you  don't 
tell  them." 

Lottie  smiled,  and  the  young  man  laii  ;he(l  aloud.  The 
girl  was  rather  pleased  with  herself,  finding  she  was  able 
to  keep  up  her  ])art  of  a  conver>atjon  ahr.ost  as  if  the  dia- 
logue hacl  been  a  selection  from  a  book.  It  was  true  that 
the  heroes  of  romances  were  usually  persons  of  the  most 
rertned  education,  whose  opinions  on  literature,  where 
expressed,  were  invariably  of  a  nature  extremely  flatter- 
ing to  that  art;  still  Mr.  Maguire  was  merely  a  first  at- 
tempt, and  he  was  certainly  very  amus'ng.  Perhaps  she 
would  yet  meet  one  of  tliose  who  talked  in  rounded 
periods,  and  this  present  encounter  would  at  least  be 
good  practice  fur  what  was  to  cunie.     Thitiking  of  the 


^WliiB 


"  I  li.ive  (lattcred  a  lady  "  63 

discourse  as  a   preliminary   training  bDught   the  next 
question  to  lier  lips. 

"  You  are  taking  part  in  this  election  then,  not  because 
you  have  any  interest  in  it,  but  merely  as  practice  in  tret- 
tmg  to  know  how  to  deal  with  pcojjle?  " 

"  Oil.  I  have  the  deepest  interest  in  it  while  it's  gointr 
on,  tor  I  do  want  to  see  whether  I'm  any  good  or  whether 
me  name  s  Dennis."  ' 

"  ^^"^v  are  you  going  to  get  them  to  do  what  vou  want 
them  to?     I  d  like  to  know." 

"What  do  you  want  to  know  for?     Sure  vou  don't 

need  to  learn  a  thing  like  that,  because  evervbodv  would 

want  to  do  what  you  asked  them  anvhow,  and  be  pleased 

o  get  the  chance.     Try  me.  U,r  instance,  if  vou  don't  be- 

lieve  it. 

"  Yes,  but  that's  not  telling." 

"  Well,  ye  see.  it's  like  the  old  poem.  '  Manv  men  of 
many  minds,  many  fish  of  manv  kinds.  .Many—'  I  forget 
the  rest.  ^  mi  treat  each  one  according  to  his'  nature,  and 
that  s  what  I  sa>  a  man  must  be  able  to  find  out,  if  his 
nanii's  not  to  be  Mud.  I'm  fullv  certain  of  this  that 
you  must  smooth  i^ople  (knvn  if've  want  to  get  along 
with  them.  1- lattery  is  not  distasteful  to  any  man,  if  you 
mix  it  according  to  his  liking  and  apply  it  with  some  ju- 
dition.  "  ■* 

"  I  thought  it  was  only  women  who  were  silly  enoutrh 
to  want  ilattery."  ** 

"  Now,  there  you're  wrong  entirely,  b'latterv  is  the 
very  ast  thing  1  would  dare  try  with  a  woman.  She 
would  see  through  it  in  a  minute  and  so  would  have  a 
poor  opinion  of  me.  and  once  ye  lose  a  woman's  good 
opinion  you  re  nowhere  at  all  with  her.  Xo  1  always 
tell  a  woman  the  exact  truth,  for  she  don't  like  to  think 
you  re  deluding  her.  And  eycn  the  truth  itself  one  must 
deal  sjianngly  with,  for  fear  she  might  not  be  pleased 
with  too  bold  a  handling  of  it ;  for  take  ourselves  here, 
friendly  like.  I  would  not  presume  to  say  half  what  I 
thought.  I  might  say  that  never  in  all  nn'life  had  I  met 
a  young  lady  it  was  such  a  i)leasure  to  talk  with,  but  I 


di 


64 


The  Victors 


i  i 


ji  I 
I'  \ 


would  carefully  conceal  that  she  was  the  most  beautiful 
girl  I  had  ever  seen  as  well." 

"  O  dear,"  cried  Lottie  blushing  and  jumping  to  her 
feet,  "  after  that  I  must  get  about  my  work.  It's  later 
than  I  thought." 

"  Now  sit  down  again.  Miss  Lottie,"  he  pleaded  per- 
suasively. "  You  sec  you  just  prove  what  J  was  saying. 
Imagine  what  the  result  would  be  if  I  ventured  away 
from  the  truth  and  tried  flattery,  if,  indeed,  it  would  be 
possible  to  flatter  you,  which  it  is  not,  for  anything  any 
man  could  say  would  be  short  of  the  truth.  Won't  you, 
then,  forgive  the  half  I  said  as  well  as  the  half  I  hid?  You 
know  you  promised  to  help  me  with  this  list." 

The  girl  stood  irresolute  for  a  moment,  then  sat  once 
more. 

'■  Time  is  getting  on,"  she  said  warningly. 

"  Yes,  bad  luck  to  it.  It  always  ^-allops  when  you 
want  it  to  walk,  and  walks  when  you  want  it  to  gallop, 
like  an  ill-trained  horse." 

"  Oh,  by  the  way,  where  is  your  own  horse  all  this 
time?" 

"  I  lent  it  to  the  boys  to  do  some  peddling  with.  You 
see  I  didn't  want  it  while  I  was  copying  the  list,  and  told 
them  to  take  it  and  go  on  with  them,  and  I'd  walk." 

"  I'm  sure  that  was  very  kind  of  you.  I  hop.*  they'll 
make  some  money,  although  this  isn't  a  very  good  district 
for  pedlars." 

"  Money  is  the  last  thing  they'll  make  now  or  any  other 
time.  They're  college-bred  chaps,  and  they'll  never 
amount  to  anything." 

"  Don't  you  believe  in  colleges  then  ?  '' 

"  I  do  not.  You  lose  all  the  years  you  spend  there, 
and  what  mc-ney  it  costs  you,  and  then  come  out  not 
able  to  meet  t'- •  world  at  all,  at  all.  What  they  learn 
there  is  nonsense  and  no  use  at  all  outside,  and  I'm  sure 
I  don't  know  what  good  it  is  inside  the  colleges  either." 

"  What  do  they  teach,  besides  reading  and  writing  and 
all  that  ?  " 

"  I'll  never  tell  you,  for  I  don't  know." 

"Then  how  do  you  know  whether  it's  useless  or  not  ? " 


■;^^.:.^:'^V:K 


"I  have  nattered  a  lady" 


65 


"  Now  you  have  me  there  sure  enough.  My  eyes  were 
that  dazzk-d  looking  at  you  that  I  tumbled  into  the  trap 
without  scein.'j^  it.  Oh,  yes,  yes,  the  list.  True  enough, 
we  mustn't  for.i^et  the  list,  and  I'm  coming  to  it  in  one 
moment." 

The  girl  had  risen  again,  and  a  voice  came  from  an 

inner  room. 

"  Lottie,  isn't  it  time  to  he  looking  after  the  tea?  " 

I'  Yes.  .notlior."  she  replied.  "  I  am  going  this  moment." 

"  Please  don't  go  just  yet  awhile.     It's  quite  early." 

"  I  must  go  now." 

"  Well,  I'm  wid  ye  then.     Isn't  there  anything  I  can 

do  to  help  you  ?  " 

"  I've  heli)cd  you  so  much  with  the  list,  haven't  I  ?  " 

"  Indeed  ye've  done  more  than  that.  Miss  Lottie,  you've 
spoken  kindly  words  to  a  ])oor  fellow  that  hasn't' manv 
friends  in  this  world,  and  words  that  he'll  remember  all 
hi?  life." 

"  1  didn't  know  anything  I  said  was  so  important  as 
all  that;  "but  here  again  she  experienced  a  thrill  almost 
equal  to  the  reading  of  a  fascinating  romance,  for  it  might 
be  coii.cidcnce  or  it  might  not— he  said  he  never  read 
these  immortal  works— yet  it  was  undoubted  that  in  most 
of  them  the  slightest  words  of  the  heroine  had  a  life-ex- 
tending eflfect  on  the  well-b^ing  of  the  hero.  The  two 
walked  out  into  the  kitchen  together,  he  carefully  closing 
the  door  behind  diem  to  give  a  greater  effect  of  being 
alone 

"  Isn't  there  anything  I  can  do  to  help?  Wood  to  chop, 
a  fire  to  light,  or  water  t(j  carry  ?  " 

"  No,  thank  you.  I'.ut  you  might  go  out  to  the  fields 
and  walk  back  with  my  father  when  he  returns.  Then 
you  would  have  a  chance  of  talking  over  the  voters." 

Patrick  was  quick  to  see  that  she  did  not  desire  her 
father  and  brother  to  come  home  and  find  them  there  to- 
gether. 

'■  I'll  do  it,"  he  said,  "  this  very  moment.  But  I  want 
another  talk  with  you.  There  are  lots  of  tilings  I  didn't 
have  a  chance  to  mention  this  afternoon.  Won't  you 
come  out  to  the  front  gate  after  supper?" 


66 


Tlic  Victors 


II 

I  i 


The  girl  shook  her  head. 

"  Please  conic  if  you  can  slip  away.  I'll  be  out  there 
anyhow,  and  if  you  don't  come  I'll  be  thinking-  of  what 
you  told  me." 

"  You'd  better  get  to  the  fklds,  if  you  want  to  have 
a  talk  with  my  father  alwiut  the  voters'  list." 

"  Will  you  come  io  the  gate  to-night  ?  " 

"  No,  I  won't." 

"  Why  ?  " 

"  Because  I  don't  go  out  to  the  gate  even  with  my 
friends,  and  it's  not  likely  I'm  go'ng  with  a  stranger." 

"  I'd  forgotten  I  was  a  stranger,"  said  the  young  man 
in  a  doleful  voice.  Then  with  a  .semi-comical  air  of 
throwing  a  load  of  sorrow  from  his  mind  he  looked  up 
at  her,  a  twinkle  in  his  eye,  and  ad<led : 

"  I  am  not  as  much  of  a  stranger  now  as  I  was  this 
morning,  am  I  ?  " 

"  I  don't  sup])ose  you  are." 

"  Then  it's  wearing  off  gradually.  Will  ye  be  in  the 
parlour  to-morrow  afternoon?" 

"  TV-rhaps." 
Then  I'm  off  to  the  fields  at  once,  and  here's  hoping 
to-morrow  will  come  quickly.  ' 

From  the  kitciien  window  she  saw  him  disappear  down 
the  lane  that  led  to  the  back  of  the  farm. 


I 


HI 


CHAPTER    V 


nOINC  NOTIIINT.   rOR  A   BRIBE  " 

For  the  next  few  days  Ma^uire  was  the  busiest  man 
in  the  state  of  Michijran.  He  went  about  his  work  with 
preat  cheerfuhiess.  hail-fellow-well-met  with  everyone, 
a  j^rood  story  to  tell  where  a  storv  was  apj)reciate(l,  as  was 
the  case  nearly  everywhere,  yet  equallv  readv  to  talk 
serious  politics  with  those  of  an  argumentative  turn  of 
mmd.  If  ridiculed,  as  he  often  was  for  workinj,^  in  a 
contest  that  did  not  concern  him.  he  took  everything-  said 
with  the  utmost  equanimitv.  often  returniufr  as  jro'od  as 
he  received  in  the  way  of  banter,  but  alwavs  with  a  spice 
of  kmdhness  that  left  no  stinj^  in  a  hard'-hittinjr  retort. 
Yet  no  matter  how  distant  a  part  of  the  ilistrict  he  was 
canvassing  he  manajjed  to  return  everv  afternoon  to 
the  farm  parlour.  "  tryinjr  to  wear  down  the  feelinfr  of 
bemjr  a  stranger  entirely,"  as  he  said. 

When  a  week  had  passed  he  announced  to  farmer  By- 
field  that  they  must  call  a  meeting  of  the  anti-ditchers  at 
the  schoolhouse.  "  I  know  everybodv  in  the  district 
and  want  to  be  sure,  if  possible,  that  we  get  none  of  the 
opposition  there.  Tlie  otlicr  side  is  working  hard,  but 
they're  working  quietly.  We  must  get  uj)  a  fund,  or  we're 
a  beaten  crowd.  I'll  give  the  word  round,  and  invite  only 
the  right  peo{)It'  who  are  in  earnest  against  the  ditch." 

On  the  night  of  the  meeting  the  audience  gathered 
slowly  and  casually,  as  if  thev  (V"\  not  .  xpect  it  would  do 
any  particular  grwd  or  ha'-.n.  I)nt  that  anvliow  thev  might 
as  well  be  there  to  see  uli.-a  was  going  to'  liap|)en. '  When 
at  length  the  .^clioolrooiT.  was  ncarlv  tilled  and  Maguire 
with  energetic  effort  had  -.-rsuaded'  those  who  were  lin- 
gering round  the  gate  and  gossiping  to  come  inside,  push- 


liiC    IC'iiCi', 


67 


Byfield 


f  '■ 


68 


The  Victors 


i  ;i 


was  unanimously  voted  into  the  cliair,  anil  the  meeting 
was  called  to  order. 

"  1  don't  know  just  exactly  what  we're  here  for,"  said 
the  chairman  in  non-committal  fashion ;  "  but  1  jjuess  it's 
to  hear  what  the  canvasser's  j^ot  to  say,  and  if  he's  got 
anything  to  say  now's  his  chance." 

This  could  scarcely  be  called  an  enthusiastic  introduc- 
tion, but  Maguire  stepped  forward  as  briskly  as  if  it  had 
been  a  most  tlattering  eulogy  of  his  oratorical  powers. 

"  tientlemen."  began  the  si)(.aker,  "I've  been  riding 
and  tramping  nnmd  this  neighbourhood  for  over  a  week 
and  have  had  a  good  time  and  have  met  a  lot  of  nice 
peopk-  that  1  didn't  know  before,  and  they've  met  me,  so 
we're  even  on  tl'.at  score.  I've  had  a  meal  at  most  of 
your  houses.  aiKl  never  had  so  much  that  was  gotx!  to 
eat  before,  so  that's  where  I'm  ahead.  .\ow.  I've  called 
this  meeting  to  let  von  know  just  l.ow  the  case  stands. 
I'.oys.  were  lickod  !  " 

■■  That's  encouraging."  "  ^ Ou  didn't  need  to  call  a 
meeting  to  tell  us  that.  We'd  a  found  it  out  soon 
enouj4;h."  came  cries  from  dililerent  parts  of  the  room, 
amid  ijeneral  laughter. 

"  ^'es.  you'd  have  found  it  out  the  day  after  the  voting, 
but  I  thoiiqht  it  was  a  pity  to  keej)  you  waiting  that  long. 
People  these  days  like  to  get  news  as  soo-i  as  they  can. 
I've  got  this  thing  down  fine,  and  if  the  ])olbng  was  to 
take  ])lace  to-morrow  we'd  be  snowed  under  by  six  votes." 

"  Not  much  of  a  snow-under,"  was  someone's  com- 
ment. 

"  Xo,  but  a  majority  of  one  against  you  is  as  good  as 
a  northern  Michigan  blizzard,  i'be  taxes  will  be  just  as 
heavy  for  the  next  ten  years  as  if  the  majority  was  a 
tl'ourand.  Pmt  there  isn't  any  need  to  let  it  go  at  this.  A 
contest's  never  won  or  lost  till  the  last  vote's  counted." 

"  Yes,  it  is.  It's  lost  or  won  when  the  last  vote's 
dropped  in  thf  ballot  bo.x,  some  little  time  before  the 
counting  ends." 

The  self-evident  truth  of  this  interruption  brought 
forth   cheers. 

"  You've  got  me  there,"  admitted  Maguire  good-na- 


«■« 


;  s'-<. 


U. 


^^ 


"Doing  nothing  for  a  bribe"  69 

l!mo  "k  "f '  ^"''  ^""'^'T  ^.^'^  '^^''' ''  ""^^"y  ''^'^"'^'l  some  little 
t.me  before  even  the  last  man  puts  in  his  paper      Hut 

what  I  wante<l  to  say  was  that  while  there's  life  there's 

fheS'«"^  '"  ^'V  ^^«"'t  t'^*^  times,  while  there's  cash 
there  s  hope  Now  there's  between  twelve  and  fifteen 
vocs  .n  th>s  district  that's  aj^ainst  us  to  n  Lht 
but  not  very  stron^^ly  against  us.  I  iiave  reatn 
to  know  that  the  other  side  is  puttinj^  up  a  h  "le 
of   the   sponc  uhx    wherever   it's   coming   from.     Tha  's 

\nl  iron"t/'"f   "''    T^-^   ^^^'"-^^    "^-     They're    do! 
hn?  X    \^     ^    ^''"^^'^    ^"'^  ^"    ^  ^^'O'    narrow    margin, 
but  they  thmk  ,t  s  enough,  and  so  it   is,  unless  we  go 
them  a  httle  better,  but  now  if  we  put  up  a  little  piTe  and 
keep  qu.et  about  it  till  polling  day  comi,  they  won't  get 
susp.c.ous  until  ,t's  too  late  to  do  anything.     They  don' 
thmk  I  m  workmg  this  racket,  and  "even  if  they^di  1 
Ion  t  suppose  they  d  be  afraid  of  anything  I  could  do      I 
tell  em  I  m  a  pedlar,  and  that's  the 'truth.     They  ask  me 
what  mtercst  I  have  in  this  thing,  and  [  tell  'em  thati  h^e 
to  .see  a  fight,  on  general  principles  " 
"We  could  tell'em  bettern  that."  cried  a  farmer  in  the 

stake  purse.      I  hat  .s  what  you're  interested  in.     I   saw 
It  commg  tins  while  back  and  suspicioned  what  this  meet- 

There  was  a  murnnir  of  approval  which  welcomed  the 

^^T:     "^'^r''^^'"'  "^^"'  ^"^'  the  tide  seemed 
fTnnT  n     "  ' ''  '"''"f '""•'^  ^^laguire.     A  subscrip- 

tion  IS  never  popular,  and  these  rural   residents  had  a 
keen  scent  for  a  beggar. 
"  you    said    last    meeting."    continued    the    objector 

wlm  no'^^'ir' rn  r""'''-'''  'T'^^b  ^"^'  ^^'^'  you  didn't 
uant  no  cash.     1      leave  it  to  the  chairman  if  4u  didn't 
for  he  aske<l  you.  -^  ' 

The  chairman  made  no  response,  but  sat  there  irkim 
and  uncomfortable,  thinking  he  was  going  to  bse"^  ™ 
week  s  boarding  money,  as.  indeed,  he  had  long  since  sus- 
pected woula  be  the-  case.  Magu.re  put  on  a  look  of 
injured  innocence  that  was  seraphic  to  behold 


I 


70 


The  V'ctors 


il 


:  I 


"  There  was  a  man  in  Xcw  York  thai  made  a  het  ho 
would  go  to  one  of  the  country  fairs  that  fall  and  peddle 
genuine  ten-dollar  hills  for  ten  cetUs  eacii.  and  the  het  was 
that  he  would  K'et  no  takers  among  the  farmers,  although 
the  three-card-moute  sharp  would  be  driving  a  roaring 
business.  Well,  he  got  a  lot  of  brand  new  crisp  suspicious 
uX)king  bills  outen  the  bank,  each  one  as  good  as  the 
Ignited  States  that  backed  ihem.  and  sure  enough  he  never 
got  an  oflfer,  till  a  j^olicenian  came  and  ran  him  in  on 
charge  of  trying  to  pa--  cDUiUerteit  money.  Next  day 
when  the  farmers  found  out  that  the  money  was  genuine, 
they  was  all  a-kicking  themselves,  but  then  it  was  too 
late.  Xow  I'm  peddling  ten-dollar  bills  to-night  and  offer- 
ing 'em  at  ten  cents  and  tliis  man  in  the  corner  says,  '  Vou 
don't  get  a  cent  out  er  me.'  P'raps  I  don't,  but  neither 
did  the  other  fellow  that  was  peddling  the  real  bills.  Xow 
the  ten-dollar  bills  I'm  offering  you  to-night  are  not  in  my 
pockets,  but  in  yours.  They're  the  bills  that  will  come 
out  year  after  year,  as  you're  i)aying  taxes  on  this  ditch. 
And  then  there's  another  thing  that  I  want  you  to  pay 
attention  to.     This  here  business — " 

"Just  wait  a  minute,  Mr.  Maguire,  and  let  me  sjjcak. 
We  all  admit  that  we  don't  want  to  i)ay  taxes  on  this 
ditch.  There's  no  use  wasting  talk  on  thai  ■-ubject.  but  I 
take  it  that  what  my  friend  in  the  coriur  lucaas,  and  what 
we  all  mean,  is  that  we're  not  such  jays  a-;  to  get  up  a 
fund  for  some  stranger  to  spend  as  be  likes  and  give  us 
whatever  acc(junt  he  ])leases  of  the  blowing  in  of  the 
monev.  I'm  not  saying  that  the  money  wouldn't  be 
I)roperly  spent,  but  some  might  think  there  was  a  leak, 
and  I  don't  see  how  we  could  ^irovc  llutv  wasn't." 

"  Xow  that's  tlie  way  1  like  to  hear  a  i;ian  talk."  cried 
Maguire.  entluisiasm  atui  adniira  lou  for  free  speech 
beamitig  from  his  countenance.  "  Vou  see.  some  of  you 
folks  are  goinjLT  off  at  half-cock.  You're  shooting  off 
vour  mouths  Ix-iore  giving  me  a  chance  to  tell  you  what 
I'm  at.  There's  a  right  and  a  wrong  way  of  doing  every- 
thing, and  I'm  going  to  sh.ow  vou  the  right  way  of  going 
about  this  affair,  and  so  far  as  wanting  any  money 
you    subscribe    to    leak    into    my    pocket,    what    little 


"Doin^  iiotliiiig  lor  a  bribe" 


71 


niojicy  I've  ^mt  is  K-ninj,'  to  k-ak  tlu-  f)tlicr  way."     The 
speaker  pulled  from  his  purse  a  dollar  bill,  and  waviuf;  it 
in  the  air  slapi)ed  it  down  on  the  teacher's  desk  with  a  re- 
soundinjj  crack  of  his  knuckles  on  the  hoard,  in  front  of 
the  chairman.     "  Monev   talks,   as   the  ol<l   woman  said 
when  she  kept  tavern,"  he  coiitinue<l  in  a  loud  voice,  "  and 
nowhere  does  it  talk  more  to  the  point  thanatan  election. 
There's  my  dollar,  and  it's  just  as  ,t,'ood  a  dollar  as  anv 
man's  dollar  in  this  crowd.     1  head  the  subscription  list: 
'  Patrick  Masuire.  Ks-quire,  one  tlollar!'    \ow,  how  am 
I    proiiiR  to   jirevent    this  dollar   that    1  have  earned   k'"- 
injT  into  some  pocket  where  it  doesn't  belon,r?     Ilow  am 
I  ^oinfr  to  be  sure  that  this  here  bill  jj^oes  to  keep  down 
ta.xation  in  this  district?     I'll  tell  you  how,  and  it's  as 
easy  as  rollinjr  otlf  a  lo^.     You  appoint  rij-ht  here  and 
now    a  finance    committee     of  three    members    or   more 
or  less,    and    see    that  you    jnit  in    men  you    can    trust, 
men  that  can't  Ik.'  fooled  l)y  me  or  any  oilier  man.     Can 
such  men  be  found  in  this  liicetinj^f?  Well.  I  should  smile! 
It  would  be  an  insult  to  the  honesty  and  intellij^ence  of 
the  community  if  any  one  here  said  "they  couldn't.     Now 
the  subscriptions  will  be  paid  in  fo  this  committee  and 
paid  out  by  this  committee.     They'll  look  over  every  item 
before  it  is  jiaid  and  see  that  it  i.>  rij^dit  before  they  settle 
it.     If  any  man  can  f,a't  money  that  doesn't  belong  to 
him    from    three    hard-headed,    common-sense    farmers, 
why.  hanja:  it.  he  has  a  r!i;ht  to  it.  that's  all  I've  j;«t  to  s-iv. 
I  know  I  haven't  brains  enout^h  to  try  it  on.     And  m/w 
while  I'm  on  my  le.ys.  anyhow,  here's  a  funny  thing  I'd 
like  to  call  your  attention  to.     You  seem  to  Jiave  got  it 
in  your  heads  that  a  man  can't  have  an  interest  in  a  con- 
test unless  there's  booille  in  it  for  him.     I've  been  asked 
a  hundred  times  if  I've  been  asked  once.    '  Whatter  you 
i^oing  to  make  out  of  this  thing? '      Can't  a  man  nave  an 
interest  in  a  norse-race  without  having  a  bet  on?     Can't 
a  man  have  an  interest  in  a  presidential  election  without 
expecting  to  be  made  secretary  of  the  treasury?     Why, 
there's  not  a  ma-)  in  this  room  but  has  s|)ent  time  and 
shouted  himself  hoarse  and  helped  ])ut  up  a  liberty  pole 
and  tore  around  promiscus  when  he  wasn't  making  a 


W 


XSHOHPT'l^ 


72 


The  Victors 


tl 


III  I 

:  '  1 

'.  i  : 

It  I 


cent  or  standing  in  to  get  the  office  of  pound-master,  just 
because  he  had  an  interest  in  the  way  thinjjs  were  running, 
and  knew  durned  well  he  wasn't  going  to  make  a  cent  by 
it.  Well,  that's  the  way  with  me  about  this  here  ditch. 
It  doesn't  matter  a  red  cent  to  me  which  way  the  thing 
goes,  but  1  tell  you,  gentlemen,  I  don't  like  to  get  licked, 
even  if  it  was  only  my  pup  in  a  dog  fight,  and  that's  what's 
the  matter  with  me.  Now,  gentlemen,  appoint  your 
finance  committee." 

The  eloquent  Maguire,  with  a  wave  of  his  hand  that 
seemed  to  shift  all  responsibility  from  his  shoulders  to 
the  shoulders  of  the  meeting,  took  his  seat,  and  for  a 
few  moments  there  was  silence ;  then  a  buzz  of  whispers ; 
finally  the  previous  objector  arose  and  said : 

"  I  think  the  last  speaker  has  talked  like  a  man,  and 
has  spoken  straight  from  the  shoulder,  as  one  might  say, 
and  1  agree  with  him  that  if  he  can  get  the  moin._y  from 
the  committee's  pocket  into  his  own  he  deserves  it,  and 
we  deserve  to  lose  it.  I  move  that  Mr.  Byfield,  our  pres- 
ent chairman,  be  appointed  chairman  of  the  finance  com- 
mittee, and  that  he  nominate  two  others  to  assist  him." 

"  I  second  the  motion."  "  Seconded,  seconded,"  came 
from  all  parts  of  the  hall. 

"  Gentlemen,  I'd  ruther  have  nothing  to  do  with  it," 
protested  Byfield,  half  rising.  "  Mr.  Maguire  is  staying 
at  m^'  place,  and  so  I  think  it  would  be  better  all  round 
to  have  some  outsider.  I  don't  want  the  job."  There 
were  cries  of  "  Go  it,  Byfield."  "  Don't  back  out."  "  Put 
the  motion."  "  Moved  and  seconded."  But  Byfield  sat 
the-e  shaking  his  head,  until  the  man  who  made  the  mo- 
tion got  on  his  feet  again. 

"There's  something  in  what  Mr.  Byfield  says.  I'd 
forgotten  that  Mr.  Maguire  was  staying  at  his  house,  and 
of  course  it  wouldn't  be  pleasant  to  !iave  to  keep  watch  on 
a  guest,  for  when  all's  said  and  done,  that's  what  our 
action  amounts  to.  For  my  part  I  would  be  perfectly 
willing  to  trust  Mr.  Maguire.  for  he  talks  the  way  I  like 
to  hear  a  man  talk,  but  we  want  to  satisfy  everybody, 
and  simply  beca'se  I  believe  in  him  I  want  to  see  the 
game  carried  on  according  to  his  own  proposal,  which 


*,i-'FLw  >J5.  -JlLVA'Jia^.. 


-■*sc:iiii;i  ■"•«•:  .■•■••; 


"  Doing  nothing  for  a  bribe  " 


73 


strikes  me  as  perfectly  fair  to  himself  and  everybody  else 
and  leaves  no  chance  for  saying  '  I  told  vou  so  '  after 
the  thing's  over.  Now,  who  was  it  made  the  first  objec- 
tion? I  think  it  was  you,  Mr.  Slade,  over  in  the  corner. 
All  right;  Mr.  Sla<le  nods  his  head.  Very  well,  I  move 
that  Mr.  Jonas  Slade  be  finance  committee  all  by  himself, 
or  call  him  secretary  and  treasurer  if  you  like.  I've  just 
been  thinking  that  committees  are  rather  cumbersome 
affairs,  and  it  will  be  difficult  in  these  busy  times  to  get 
three  men  together  very  often,  while  if  Mr.  Maguire  has 
to  visit  them  separately  that  will  take  a  lot  of  time  and 
also  no  (lecisions  will  be  arrived  at,  for  one  man  will  say 
he's  willing  to  do  what  the  other  two  agree  to.  and  so 
wc  wont  have  any  end  to  the  running  back  and  forward, 
and  wc  will  have  divided  responsibility,  if  there  is  a  dis- 
pute later  about  the  disposal  of  the  cash.  A  will  say  he 
never  agreed  to  this  or  that,  and  B  will  say  he  thought 
that  was  vvliat  A  and  C  wanted,  and  so  there  we  will  be 
in  the  dangdest  muddle,  everybody  blaming  someone  else. 
I  know  how  it  is,  because  I've  served  on  committees  my- 
self and  mi-hty  thankless  work  it  is.  Now  we  all  know 
Mr.  Slade.  and  we  know  that  if  any  man  wants  a  dollar 
outen  him  he  didn't  earn  he  has  to  get  up  pretty  early 
in  the  morning." 

There  was  laughter  at  this,  in  which  Slade  himself 
joined.  He  was  evidently  proud  of  his  reputation,  and 
his  character  appeared  to  be  well  understood  by  his 
neighbours. 

"  Therefore  I  move  tiiat  Mr.  Slade  be  appointed  to  take 
charge  of  whatever  money  is  collected  and  see  that  It 
is  properly  disbursed."  / 

The  niotion  being  as  vociferously  seconded  as  the  other 
the  chairman  put  it,  and  it  was  carried  /ananimously. 

"  Now,  gentlemen,"  said  Maguire,  stepping  forward 
to  the  desk  as  cheerfully  and  briskly  as  if  everything  was 
going  his  way,  "  you've  done  exactly  the  right  thin,-^,  and 
after  hearing  the  reasons  for  one  man  rather  than  three 
or  five  I  have  to  admit  that  the  mover's  plan  is  l)etter 
than  mine.  I've  put  my  own  name  at  the  head  of  this 
hst  because  I  subscribed  a  dollar,  but  I'm  quite  ready  to 


Ij^ 


1   N^ 


MlCtOCOW^   RESOLUTION   TEST  CHART 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


jS   /ipplied  ina^ge 


1653   East    Main   Street 

Rochester.    New   York         14609       USA 

(716)   482  -0300-^hone 

(716)   288-  5989      Fax 


74 


The  Victors 


put  it  below  any  name  that  has  bigger  figures  opposite 
it.  I  think  I  see  five  dollars  in  Mr.  Slade's  eye  because  of 
the  handsome  unanimous  vote  he  got.  Come  up  to  the 
captain's  office  and  settle,  Mr.  Slade." 

But  the  cautious  Slade  contented  himself  with  putting 
down  another  dollar,  being  ashamed  to  make  it  less,  al- 
though he  cursed  the  generous  stranger  in  his  heart 
and  wished  someone  had  started  the  list  with  twentv- 
five  cents.  Others  objected  that  they  had  no  money  with 
them;  but  Maguire  said  all  they  had  to  do  was  to  put 
down  the  sum  they  wished  to  subscribe,  and  he  would  be 
only  too  pleased  to  call  round  for  the  money  and  pay  it 
in  to  the  treasurer.  So,  once  the  ball  started  to  roll,  none 
escaped,  although  few  put  down  a  larger  amount  than 
Maguire.  All  in  all,  there  was  given  and  promised  the 
sum  of  fifty-seven  dollars  before  the  meeting  broke  up  and 
its  members  went  home. 

During  the  next  few  days  Maguire  saw  much  of  Slade, 
for  he  industriously  collected  all  the  outstanding  money 
and  brought  it  to  the  treasurer  bit  by  bit  until  the  full 
amount  was  coralled  in  the  latter's  safe-keeping.  T4ie 
farmer  always  greeted  the  energetic  young  man  with  a 
cunning,  knowing  leer,  as  much  as  to  say :  "  You  haven't 
got  any  of  this  cash  yet."  But  Maguire  displayed  no 
anxiety  about  the  money,  never  mentioned  it,  in  fact,  ex- 
cept to  say  once  or  twice  that  he  did  not  think  it  would 
be  enough,  and  that  if  he  found  it  failed  to  bridge  the 
chasm  he  proposed  to  return  it  to  the  subscribers,  as 
Slade  had  the  list,  for  there  was  no  use  in  throwing  good 
money  away  uselessly,  a  sentiment  with  which  Mr.  Slade 
cordially  agreed.  Slade  experienced  some  difficulty  in 
understanding  this  frank  open-hearted  young  man  who 
worked  without  ceasing  in  what  he  was  beginning  to  re- 
gard as  a  lost  cause,  and  who  never  even  hmted  that  he 
would  like  something  on  account. 

Early  on  the  morning  before  polling  day  Maguire  ar- 
rived at  the  Slade  homestead  just  as  the  farmer  was  about 
to  set  out  for  the  fields  with  his  men.  He  did  not  seem 
too  well  pleased  at  the  incursion  of  a  visitor  at  such  an 
important  moment. 


"  Doing  nothing  for  a  bribe  "  75 

"  I've  got  this  thing:  coppered  at  last,  Mr.  Slade!  "  cried 
the  young  man,  m  high  feather.  "  I've  got  it  all  down 
fine,  but  I  tell  you  it  has  cost  a  lot  of  work,  although  now 
we  are  sure  to  win." 

"  Yes?  Well,  that's  all  right,"  said  the  farmer,  with- 
out enthusiasm. 

"  Now,  I've  got  to  have  a  talk  with  you  right  awav  " 
persisted  Maguire.  o  j, 

"Couldn't  you  come  back  in  the  evening?  I'm  busi 
now. ' 

"  I  know  it;  but  I've  got  to  have  you  in  the  evening, 
too,  and  I  called  round  so  that  there  would  be  no  hi^ch 
about  that.  It's  important.  You'd  better  tell  your  hired 
men  what  to  do,  if  they  don't  know  already,  and  com-e  into 
the  house  with  me  for  ten  minutes." 

"  Can't  you  walk  out  to  the  fields  with  me,  and  talk  as 
we  go  along  ?  " 

"  Well,  now,  Mr.  Slade,  I've  tried  to  save  you  all  the 
bother  I  could  about  this  whole  affair ;  but  to-morrow  the 
pollmg  takes  place,  and  I've  got  to  have  a  talk  with  vou 
right  now."  "^ 

If  you  want  any  money,  I  give  you  fair  warning  that 
I  won  t  part  with  a  cent  except  for  accounts  shown  and 
receipts  taken.  And  if  you  want  to  see  me  for  anything 
else,  you  can  talk  to  me  as  well  going  to  the  fields  as  in  the 
house." 

"Why,  of  course ;  that's  the  arrangement  r.nd  that's 
right.  I  can't  be  hired  to  touch  a  dollar  of  the  money, 
and  you  can  bet  your  boots  on  that.  You  were  nominated 
and  elected  unanimously  to  handle  this  cash,  and,  what's 
more,  you  accepted.  It  was  because  I  didn't  intend  to 
have  anything  to  do  with  the  fund  that  I  proposed  a  com- 
mittee, for  you  mustn't  forget  that  the  reason  you  were 
appointed  was  because  I  proposed  it.  You  have  had  a 
wrong  idea  about  what  I  wanted  done  all  along.  I  saw 
that,  but  it  didn't  matter  to  me,  and  I  said  nothing.  You 
couldn't  hire  me  to  handle  the  money." 

"Oh,  of  course  not,"  sneered  the  farmer. 

"  I'd  do  anything  to  oblige  a  friend,  Mr.  Slade,  or  al- 
most anything,  and  you  know  it,  for  I've  taken  the  whole 


illl 


r  i 


i  '  ''. 


It 


fi 


ii 


1 1 


i 
t 


76 


The  Victors 


burden  of  this  thing  so  that  you  wouldn't  have  any  trou- 
ble, but  now  It's  come  to  the  point  where  yoii  must  act ; 
you  must  do  what  you  were  'lected  to  do." 

"  And  what  was  that  ?  " 

"  Why,  see  that  the  money  pots  where  it  was  intended 
to  sro,  of  course,  which  is  where  it  will  do  the  most  ltooJ." 

"  Well,  I'm  ready." 

"  '  )f  course  you  are.  I  knew  you  wouldn't  take  a  jol) 
and  funk  out  at  the  last  minute,  leaving  all  your  friends 
in  the  lurch." 

"  Oh,  I've  never  done  that  and  don't  intend  to  begin 
now." 

"  Bully  for  you.  You  know  some  of  the  fellows  have 
been  saying  to  me, '  Slade'U  back  out  when  it  comes  to  the 
pinch,'  but  I  told  'em  they  didn't  know  what  they  were 
talking  about." 

]]  Who  said  that?" 

"  I'll  tell  you  after  the  voting,  but  come  into  the  house 
now,  for  there  is  a  lot  to  do." 

The  farmer  reluctantly  gave  some  orders  to  the  men 
who  were  waiting  for  him  on  the  wagon,  and  they  drove 
off  to  their  work.  Then  he  conducted  the  canvasser  into 
the  house. 

"  Now,"  said  Maguire,  cheerfully,  "  we  can  talk  with- 
out anyone  overhearing  us,  and  that's  something  these 
times.  I've  got  a  list  of  eleven  men  who  will  vote  our 
Avay — for  a  little  consideration.  That  will  give  us  all 
the  majority  we  want  to-morrow.  I've  promised  'em  five 
dollars  apiece." 

"  Five  dollars  apiece !  Why,  jumping  gmger,  you  can 
buy  the  whole  state  for  that." 

"  No,  you  can't.  And,  what's  more,  if  the  other  side 
get  an  inkling  of  this,  they'll  see  our  rise  and  go  us  one 
better.  The  only  reason  we  can  do  it  for  this  money  is 
that  the  other  side  thinks  there's  no  work  being  done  by 
us.  I've  let  on  I  was  peddling,  and  they're  watching 
I'.yfield  and  you  and  Gome  of  the  rest.  They  see  you 
v.'orking  away  in  your  fields  and  not  taking  much  interest 
in  the  thing,  so  they  think  they're  safe.  It  will  cost  you 
twice  as  much,  or  three  or  four  times,  if  they  get  a  hint 


"  Doing  nothing  for  a  bribe "  77 

of  vvhafs  going  on  and  it's  a  blessing  for  us  that  the  vot- 
ing s  to-morrow  for  we  couldn-t  have  kept  things  quiet 
much  longer.  As  .t  is,  two  of  this  eleven  knew  of  the 
money  subscribed  at  the  meeting  and  wanted  more ;  but 

thev  alnremier"'' ''''  '^'"'"^  "^''^  '^^"^  ^''  ^°"^^^  ^"^ 

bell^^lH^^^^p-^^^'^^'^^'^^--^^ 

"I  didn't  make  any  bargain.     You  will  have  the  last 

Sri  u^"'   -^i     '{  '^""  ""^  ^''  ^'^^-  ->'  cheaper,  a 
t^S  i  i'      •     \"  '■"''  "'^'•>-f'""Sr-     They'll  be  able  to  get 

ho     tl  nA  -     ^°:'"T°^^    '^  they  get  the  slightest  Wnt 
no.v  tnmgs  are  gom^f. 

''  Well,  then,  what  do  you  sav  I'm  to  do=  " 

fh.  I  T"/  >o".;p  take  the  list  and  pay  the  men.     I  think 

them^l    ''^'^''""^'■^  ^"^1  ffi-easy  bills  in  to  town  and  get 

one  out  of.  "'^  ^^r^""^"-  '^'"^'  t'^^"  ^-^^  c^n  ^'iP 

Xt^sle^Vaon^.''"'  ^°^'^^  ^''^^^^"^  ^">-  °-  '^'"--"^ 

"  I  don't  see  the  need  of  all  that  trouble.     'Ve  can  make 

right'there'.''"'"  "'"  ''  '^^  '°"^^^  ^^^'^'  ^    -  '"^  it  out 

s;iflr\!lr  J"'^  ^'  -;?,  ^'''''     ^'^^  °ther  wav  would  be 
safer,  for  there  would  be  no  marked  bills  among  it     Old 

"  wSat  for  >°''  ""^  ^"''"'''  '''''^■'  '^""^•'^  "^^^  "^°"^y-" 

"  They  seem  to  think  it's  the  b  >st  way.     But  of  course 

you  do  It  any  plan  that  suits  vou."  "^  or  course 

''  vV  here's  your  list  of  the  eleven  men  ^  " 

I  ve  got  It  right  here  in    -  pocket,  but  before  I  show 

of  hoZr  tr.r°"""^  'Ir  ""  '''''  ''^  '^"^^  >-"'  --" 
to  allving  soul""  ""'"  "''"  '"^^'^"  '  ^^«^^  ^^^-^  '^ 
^^^"_^Why,  what's  all  this  fuss  about  a  simple  little  mat- 

"  That's  exactly  what  I  told  'em,  but  you  know  what 

sa}s  1,  Why.Slade  will  never  whisper  a  word  as  much 
for  h:s  own  safety  as  for  yours. '  " 


ii. 


;  a 


{   -j: 


iSi 


78 


The  Victors 


it 
It 


•'  My  safety  ?  " 

"  Of  course.  That's  what  I  said.  '  It's  six  of  one 
and  half  a  dozen  of  the  other.  It  isn't  HLcly  a  sensible 
man  like  Slade  is  jroing  to  put  himself  into  a  box  merely 
to  make  things  unj^leasant  for  you.'  I  told  'em  that  all 
right  enough,  but  they  made  me  say  I'd  get  you  to  prom- 
ise." ^ 

"  I  don't  know  what  the  devil  vou're  talking  about," 
exclaimed  the  farmer,  staring  across  the  table  in  bewil- 
derment at  his  visitor,  while  his  visitor  looked  with  equal 
bewilderment  at  him. 

"  Talking  about?     I'm  talking  about  buying  votes  for 
five  dolla'    each." 
"^  Well,  what  of  it  ?  " 

"  Nothing,  except  that  it's  bribery,  and  a  state-prison 
offence  m  Michigan.     I  tell  you  a  man  can't  be  too  care- 
ful monkeying  with  that  sort  of  business,  and  some  of 
these  men  know  it.     I  guess  they've  been  there  before  " 
1^  What  ?    In  state  prison  ?  " 

"  No.     In    the  bribery    business,    but    of  course    they 
know  the  law  on  the  subject.     Still,  it's  all  serene  enough 
if  a  man  goes  the  right  way  about  it,  and  I  told  them  they 
were  as  safe  as  a  church.     '  You  don't  need  to  be  afraid 
of  Mr.  Slade's  saying  anything,  I  ::ays  to  'em,  '  because 
if  you  were  to  get  up  and  shout  that  Slade  give  you  five 
dollars  for  your  vote,  he'dh.  .ve  to  deny  it  in  self-defence.'  " 
"  But  I  never  undertook  to  bribe  men." 
"  Why,  yes,  you  did,  Mr.  Slade.     What  else  was  the 
money  got  together  for?     There   weren't  no  other  ex- 
penses.    I  told  'em  at  the  first  meeting  that  they  were 
defeated  if  they  didn'c  get  the  men  on  the  f.  ice  to  come 
down  on  our  side.     Well,  how  were  you  to  get  them  down 
if  you  didn't  use  money  ?     There  ain't  no  other  expenses 
except  that  in  this  campaign,  and  everybody  knows  there 
ain't.     That's    why   the   second   meeting   was   called.     I 
wanted  a  committee  chosen  because  I   didn't   want  to 
handle  this  money   for  buying  votes.     That's   why  old 
Byfield  refused.     That's  why  they  didn't  get  the  other 
two  men  on  the  committee:  thev  knew  it  was  sa^cr  the 
fewer  there  was  in  it,  and  I  saw  that  tiie  minute  it  was 
proposed,  and  said  so." 


"  Doing  nothing  for  a  bribe 


79 


Slade,  with  jaw  dropped  and  plain  consternation  writ- 
ten on  his  face,  looked  steadily  across  the  table  at  the 
earnest  talker.  In  a  general  way  he  knew  that  bribery 
was  contrary  to  law,  but  never  before  had  the  matter  been 
brought  home  to  him  in  this  direct  way.  After  every 
election  and  during  the  contests  accusations  of  bribery 
and  corruption  were  hurled  indiscriminately  by  one  party 
at  tin  other,  and  the  pajicrs  were  full  of  the  subject,  un- 
til the  crime  was  so  familiar  to  him  that  he  looked  on  it 
as  a  matter  of  course  and  never  connected  its  commis- 
sion with  the  interior  of  a  prison. 

"  I  don't  know  as  I  ever  heard  of  anyone  going  to 
jail  for  buying  a  vote,"  he  said  at  last. 

"Why,  no.  That's  just  what  I've  been  a-telling  'em. 
You  don't  hear  of  it  once  in  a  blue  moon,  and  you 
wouldn't  then  if  people  weren't  so  fond  of  babbling.  A 
man  that  takes  care  and  keeps  quiet  is  all  right  nine 
times  out  of  ten.  That's  what  I  told  old  Byfield  when  we 
were  going  home  from  the  meeting.  '  You  needn't  a 
been  scared,'  I  said  to  him,  '  you'd  a-come  through  all 
right,'  and  he  says  to  me,  '  Why  didn't  yon  take  it  ? 
Why  was  you  so  mighty  anxious  to  get  a  committee  ap- 
pointed?'  '  Oh,  well,'  I  says  to  him,  '  'twasn't  on  that  ac- 
count ;  I  simply  wanted  one  of  yourselves  to  handle  the 
money  and  see  tha^  it  was  spent  right.'  and  then  he 
laughed.     You  know  that  mean  little  laugh  of  his." 

"  See  here,"  said  Slade  with  emphasis,  bringing  his  fist 
down  on  the  table,  "  all  this  money's  going  back  to  them 
that  subscribed  it." 

Maguire's  eyes  opened  wide  and  a  slight  sarcastic 
srnile  parted  his  lips.  He  gazed  at  the  troubled  farmer 
with  an  expression  partly  merriment,  partly  curiosity. 

"  Say,  that  would  tickle  old  iiyfield  more'n  anything 
that's  happened  in  a  year.  It  'ud  be  better  than  a  horse 
to  him.  That's  just  what  he  said  you'd  do,  but  the  man 
that  moved  you  claimed  tnat  if  you  did  chuck  up  the  job 
it  'ud  be  in  plenty  time  to  appoint  somebody  else;  but 
two  or  three  more  agreed  that  you'd  do  it  the  very  last 
minute,  and  the  man  that  moved  you  said:  '  Well,  if  he 
does,  it's  "  good-bye,  John,"  for  him  at  any  election  in 
this  district.' " 


!      li 


i     l> 


8o 


The  Victors 


I!  •  I 


"This  money's  poin-  back  all  the  same."  the  farnpf 
repeated,  hut  with  less  certainty  in  his  tones  than  before. 
What  excuse  are  \\m  mnui;  to  make  ^  " 

"Excuse?  Why.  lil  tell  'em  truth,  that  I  didn't  un- 
dertake to  bribe  people  and  break  the  law.  I'll  tell  'em 
1  m  a  law-abidmjj  citizen,  that's  what  I'll  tell  'em  I'd 
hke  to  see  any  of  'em  censure  me  for  standiiiir  by  the 
laws  of  my  country."  s     j       *. 

"  Oh.  they  wouldn't  none  of  'em  do  that.     Xo   they'd 
take  back  their  money  all  ri^dit  enou.ijh.  and  they'd  lau'di 
to  beat  the  band.     There'd  be  lots  of  fun  over  it  for  a  few 
years ;  but  I  suppose  by  and  bv  it  "ud  be  for.t;otten   unless 
you  ever  ran  for  office,  and  then  some  one  "ud  be  sure  to 
remember  it.     Wm  see.  Mr.  Sla<le.  to  ^ive  back  the  monev 
IS  simply  out   of  the  question,  because  you   must  then 
either  admit  you're  a  coward  or  a  fo:)l.  as'tbe  old  .voman 
said.     Half  11  believe  the  one  and  half  t'other.     Thev'll 
all  want  to  know  why  you  didn't  let  some  other  fellow 
tackle  the  job— why  you  didn't  refuse  as  Rvfield  did— 
shrewd    old    fellow.    I'.yficld    is-hc's    a    lot'deeper'n    I 
thouj>:ht.  for  I  expected  him  to  take  it.  but  of  course  with 
other  two  helpin.cr  liim  to  share  th.   risk  or  the  blame, 
•n  ',^-%'  ^^'^^  '^ay'"?:.  them  that  believe  vou  didn't  know 
will  think  you  were  a  fool,  and  the  rest  will  think  vou 
just  K-ot  skunked  at  the  last.     Whv.  look  here,  ^[r  S'.adc 
there  am  t  a  bit  of  dan-cr  in  s:oinor  ri-ht  on  as  we  -n- 
tended  to  do  from  the  first.     I'll  -o  with  vou.  but  I  won't 
Ro  into  the  houses.     I  won't  sec  the  monev  paid,  so  there 
am  t  no  witnesses,  except  the  man  vou  'pav  it  to    and 
he  won  t  squeal  unless  somebodv  makes  it  worth  his  while 
to  turn  state's  evidence,  which  a.n't  a  likelv  thin-  to 
happen.  •  " 

"What's  the  matter  with  me  stavini,^  outdoors  and  vou 
paying  the  money  inside,  if  it's  so  safe  as  all  that'  "' 

Slade  looked  cunningly  at  Maguire.  and  as  this  method 
of  settling  the  difficulty  had  never  occurred  to  the  voun^ 
man  he  wrinkled  his  brow  thoughtfullv  and  turned  h  s 
eyes  upward  toward  the  ceiling,  as  if  by  meditation  he 
might  accustom  himself  to  the  novelty  of  an  unexpected 
proposal.     Then,  with  a  sigh,  he  shook  his  head 


"Doiiiir  nothin^r  for  .-,  hnbc  '*  gi 

Su   T'-\":r  '"""'^■'  ^"'^  '^  '  ^^•^''•^'  ^"  P^'v  tl,cm  they 
m.^ht  think  tlit-n^  was  sonic  shcnanijran  ahout  it      No 
you  rt.  the  treasurer.     The  meetinfj  appointed  you.  and' 
his  IS  the  only  thinjj  you'll  have  to  do.  for  Tv.  done  a 
he  rest.     Xot  that  I'm  afraid  at  all.  hccause  as  I  toM 
\ou  there  s  no  real   dan^a-r  if  everyone  buttons  his  lin 

as"1lu.v'^;'   'll  "'""'•'  '''V^-     '^'^^  '^^"  ^•^"'t  ^^'^  ^«  long 
as  tJiey  jjet  the  money. 

Slade  spoke  more  eagerly.  "  Let's  see  the  list  " 
mimudv'''"  "'  '''"'  "*  ^^^''  ^"'^  ^"^  scrutinLsed  it 

"  Yes.  you've  .struck  the  riijht  crowd.  I  know  that 
pans:,  and  a  f^allous  lot  they  are.  Thev'd  vote  against 
their  grandmothers  for  a  dollar  ••  '  ^ 

..n  r^l^'-'^  T  ^^'''^  ^■^''  "^^'■'"'  ''i^'"  t«"  m"ch.  vou 
can  beat   em  down  while  I'm  waiting  outside  " 

Ao  no.  That's  all  right.  I  Jut  sav,  Maguire  I'm 
pretty  busy,  and  I've  lost  a  good  deal  of  time  sitting  and 
talking  here  when  I  ought  to  be  out  in  the  fields;  so  I 
d=nt  see  how  f  can  go  round  with  you  this  afternoon- 
sure  pop  I  don  t  Now.  you'll  write  me  a  receipt  for  fiftv- 
fivc  dollars  and  I  11  hand  vou  the  money.  You  tell  'em 
that  you  thought  it  was  better  not  to  have  too  many  in  this 
business,  and  .so's  you  had  made  all  the  arrangements 
you  had  c(..ne  round  to  pay  them  the  money.  I  suppose 
you  couldn  t  get  a  receipt  out  of  each  one  of  'em.  not  to 
show  roumi  much,  you  know,  but  just  to  have  evervthinr 
biismess'ike.'  '         '"• 

"  Well.  T  don't  think  they  would  be  such  fools  as  to 
do  a  t  ling  like  that.  Still,  you  can  never  tell.  This  is 
a  mighty  (|ueer  neighbourhood,  and,  anyhou'.  it  would 
do  no  more  harm  if  you  would  ask  them  when  you  give 
them  the  boodle."  *' 

t .  iT""  f"  }f  •'"',"■,  ''""^'  ^  ^'"'t  ^°'"S:  to  give  'em  no 
bood  e.  I  to  d  you  1  hain  t  got  no  time  to  go  around  and 
see  all  them  people. 

"  It  won't  take  you  so  very  long." 

"  But  you've  got  all  day  to  do  it  in,  and  vou've  got  a 
horse,  and  I  hain t  got  a  horse  to  spare;  not  just  now. 


Hi- 


;|! 


1; 

1  .: 

: 

-i  ' 

i 

||: 

'1 

'■■■ 

82 


The  Victors 


": 


n  i 


Wi 


III  take  your  receipt  for  the  money  all  right  enough,  and 
you  niake  it  out  for  '  necessary  "lection  expenses,'  and  I 
guess  they  won't  he  no  questions  asked  if  we  h?ve  a  ma- 
jority agin  the  ditcn." 

"  We  11  have  a  majority,  if  the  money's  put  where  peo- 
ple expect  it  to  be  put ;  if  we  haven't,  I'll  guarantee  to  pay 
it  all  hack  out  of  my  own  i)  j  :ket." 

"  V'ell,  now,  would  >  .  ehject  to  putting  liiat  down 
in  writing,  that  you  give  this  guarantee,  and  then  with 
that  and  the  rcceij     I  guess  no  one  can  hlame  me." 

"  Why  you  seem  to  be  faking  it  for  granted  that  Tm 
going  to  pay  this  money  to  the  men." 
"  Well,  vou  promised  to." 
"  When'?  " 

"  Xot  five  minutes  ago;  at  least,  you  said  as  much  as 
you  would.  What's  the  use  of  talking  of  a  guarantee  if 
you  didn't  mean  to  pay  the  men  ?  " 

"  Oh,  well,  all  right  ;'have  it  your  way.  I  ain't  got  no 
farm  to  lose;  but  I've  got  mv'libertv,  "and  I  expect  you 
to  keep  mighty  quiet  about  this  here  deal." 

"  Of  course  I'll  keep  quiet ;  besides,  I  won't  see  you  pay 
the  money,  as  you  ^aid  a  while  since,  so  vou're  as  safe  as 
you  clain  ed  I  was." 

"  Thai 's  ,,o.  Well,  you  make  out  receipt  and  guarantee 
to  suit  yoarself.  and  I'll  sign  'em.  You'n  the  durndest 
sharpest  business  man  I  ever  see,  and  I  give  you  my  word, 
although  I  haint  got  nothing  against  you  personally, 
I  wouldn't  care  to  have  any  more  monej  dealings  with 
you.  You're  too  sharp  foV  a  youngster  like  me,  for 
you've  got  me  to  promise  to  do  a  thing  I  was  Ixjund  to 
have  someone  else  in  this  district  do.  I  didn't  care  much 
who  it  was,  as  long's  it  wa'n't  me." 

Mr.  Slade  chuckled  softly  to  himself  as  he  wrote  out 
the  necessary  documents  that  would  protect  him  if  his 
fellows  ever  called  him  to  strict  account  o\  or  the  expen- 
diture of  the  money.  "  Oh,  we'll  see  you  throu '^h  all  right, 
young  fellow,"  he  said. 

"  I  hope  so,"  replied  Maguire,  in  a  tone  of  deep  de- 
spondency. 


CHAPTER  VI 


"  HiS  DI.SIIONKSTV  Al'I'EAKS  " 

Tt  was  Still  early  morning:  whyn  Mas^uirc  left  the  Slade 
hon^estead  to  make  his  way  alon«:  the  side  ruad  to  l,is 
board.nj,-pI.-,ce  The  youn^^  ,,,,jiti,ia„  ,,^,  j,, 
anxiety  re^^-inhnp  i,is  breakfast,  tearin^r  i,,.  ,„i  j.^  ,„;,, 
a  meal  between  the  houses;  breikfast  is  important  t.  a 
ptM--.<m  m  pood  heahh.  The  cool,  early  air  was  inspirit- 
ing as  well  as  appet.smfir.  As  I'atric'-  marched  ,Iown  the 
c   rfn   '1'Z  '\''^  '^>'7  "^  '^"''  ^^'^«  dampened  on  the 

as  ,f  he  walked  liroush  snow,  yet  the  powdere.l  earth 
dul  no  nse  m  a  cloud  around  him  as  it  wiuld  later  in  the 
uay.     lie  sang  cheerily: 

I  have  fifteen  dollars  in  my  inside  pocket : 
Do  you  moind. 

unSesI],r""'''1  'If''^'"''  i"  jl-.e  circumstances,  was  an 

un  erestur     -   of   the   case.     Mo   had   actualh    tifty-five 

o  lars  ,n  lus  trousers   i,ocket  at  the  moment,  and  he  was 

determmed  that  the  hulk  of  it  shouhl  stav  there.     AlMn 

day  was'''tilHn"-T'  'T  '^''''"'  ^^''^''  •"'"•^^''^-  '''"''  ^^  ^h. 
uay  uas  still  in  its  infancy,  superb  as  far  a'-  it  had  gone 

his  voice  rang  out  merrily  over  the  fields  and  was  ec^ioS 

th.M  1     '  ^'■"'"  '"Tr^"  ^''"'^^I'^  °^  '^^'  ^n^'i^'nt  fore's 
that  had  once  covered  the  land 

tb;)'.!''' K-'^  ','/''"  r- '^'^^  ^'™-  '^^  ^°""^1.  as  he  expected 
hat  the  breakfast  dishe«  had  been  cleared  awav  •  iLt  w Uh 
typical  American  rural  hospitality  a  plate  b  VleenT 
for  him  on  the  table  and  his  breakfast  war,  kepiwarn 
m  the  oven.  Lottie  was  alone  in  the  dinino-Xram 
Patrick  was  not  without  hope  that  she  was  waiting  fo 
him,  as  they  had  had  many  interviews  since  their  first' 

83 


■  I 


^       I 

....  .^_ 

'ill 


84 


Til"  Victors 


ami  wtro  on  a  basis  of  friendship,  altliouf'li  she  had  not 
yet  forej^athered  with  him  at  the  ^Ue  in  the  eveiiinj,'  as 
he  disired.  lie  hunj,'ered  for  his  breakfast,  and  also  for 
the  ^ratefid  applause  whieh  he  felt  was  his  dne  as  a  mati 
of  i)arts  who  had  suecerded  in  Kettinj,-  other  men  to  follow 
hii  wishes.  The  desire  for  praire.  or  at  least  for  com- 
tnendation.  is  almost  universal  in  the  breast  of  man.  and 
the  woman  who  understands  this  establishes  easy  dotnin- 

itm  over  him.     Thus  have  \ en  without  beauty  Or  vonth 

or  any  of  those  (jualitiv  ..that  are  supposed  to  f.iscinatc 
ruled  e!n|)ires.  while  stuj)id  historians,  beinij;  mere  men. 
have  marvelled,  unable  to  account  for  the  power  these 
v.otiiei  wielded. 

"  \V  thou^dit  you  were  lo.st."  said  Lottie.  "  You 
surely  weren't  electioneerinj;  so  early  in  the  morninj;." 

No.  Lottie,  I  wasn't — at  Jcast  1  was  electioneerinjj  for 
mvr.elf.  and  I  jjot  elected  every  time.  I  was  over  at  old 
SInde's  and  wanted  to  catch  him  before  he  went  out  to 
the  fields,  which  I  just  did  and  no  mistake.  Cauj^ht  him 
every  way  you  put  it.  They  said  at  the  meeting'  that  any 
one  who  pot  money  out  of  old  Slade  would  have  to  get 
up  early  in  the  morning:,  so  I  jjot  up  early." 
"  And  pot  the  money  ?  " 

"  You  bet.  Look-a-thcre !  "  Mapuirc.  with  a  gesture 
of  justifiable  pride,  pulled  from  his  pocket  a  handful  of 
bills  and  coins  and  flunp  the  accumulation  on  the  table. 

•'  My !  "  exclaimed  the  pirl,  eves  opening  wide,  "  what 
a  lot  of  it." 

"  Yes-sir-ec.  Fifty-five  dollars  to  a  cent.  Not  bad 
for  a  week  and  a  half's  work,  is  it  ?  " 

"  Is  that  the  money  they  raised  at  the  meeting?  " 
"  Yah.  All  but  two  dollars,  and  I  expect  to  have  that 
out  of  Slade  before  to-morrow  night.  Sav!  You  ou^dit 
t'heard  the  way  I  read  the  riot  act  to  old  Slade !  Oh.  it 
was  as  pcod  as  a  picnic,  and  his  eyes  simply  bulged,  and 
he  actually  got  pale  at  times,  and  yet  I  clean  forgot  some 
of  the  best  things  I  was  going  to  say  to  him.  And  now 
I  tell  you."  he  continued  with  great' heartiness,  selecting 
ten  of  the  tattered  bills.  "  I  want  your  mother  to  take  ten 
dollars  for  my  keep  while  I've  been  earning  of  this  pile, 


His  clislioiicsty  appears 


«^ 


nnd  'uTi's  tlu-  IkmhIIc."  IU-  waved  tin-  wnnvy  nvor 
towards  l.iT,  !>iil  she  sliraiik  l.ark   froM  lotuart   with  it. 

"  I'.iif  it  isn't  yours."  sin-  );as|Kd  l»n-athU"s  ly. 

"  It  isn't  (;//  tniiu'.  I)iit  a  «ood  sliar^  of  it  is.'  Y(mi  rust 
r.  Ma>:iiiri-  for  that.  " 

'*  F  tliouj^jlit  it  was  collictrd  for  i-Urtion  i-xpniscs." 

"  CVrt.  That's  rij^ht.  I'm  thf  l»i,i;>,'ist  ihriion  ex- 
pense thi.s  part  of  the  ounitry's  j,n)t.  and  I'm  t,'oin^,'  to  win 
for  them  as  well  as  mysell.  ( )h.  Im  uivinj,'  Vtn  value 
for  their  cash,  yon  hit.     There's  nolhinj-  mean  ahoiit  me  ' 

"  I  —  I — 1-,„  afraid  I  don't  understand.  I  tliou;.,dit  ynn 
said  you  weren't  poinjj  to  take  anvthin-— that  vou  \\\re 
« (Hn^'  all  this  for  nothinjir,  and  that's  what  evervhcdy  else 
tinnks. 

"  Well,  now.  look  here,  Lottie;  you're  a  scnsmlc  girl; 
y")J/j""'t  thmk  I  am  in  tlu\  for  my  health,  do  you  ?  " 

"  Then  why  didn't  you  .say  so  at  first  ?  " 

The  younjjf  man  iJjoked  at  her  from  his  half-eaten 
breakfast,  an  e.xprcssion  of  amazed  injured  innocence  on 
his  face.  The  trend  of  her  questifms  and  the  trme  of  l.er 
voice  bewildered  him  Was  it  possible  that  r.hc  was  not 
goinj3f  to  perceive  and  adtiiire  his  financial  skill  ? 

"Say  so  at  first?  Why,  thunder!  I  wouldn't  have 
got  a  cent  if  I  did.     Von  know  that." 

"  Well,  I  don't  know  much  about  these  things,  but  it 
doesn't  strike  me  as  honest  to  keej)  for  yourself  what  was 
intended  for  something  else." 

"  Oh,  I  see  what  you  mean.  Why.  there's  just  where 
you  arc  mi.staken.  Lottie.  Honesty's  my  strong  point.  I 
say  if  a  man  isn't  honest  his  name's  Mud,  and  it  ought  to 
be.  '  Honesty's  the  best  jjolicy  "s  my  motto.  Of  course 
Lve  lost  money  by  it.  but  I'd  rather  have  a  clear  con- 
science than  a  wad  of  five-dollar  bills.  I  am  just  going  to 
tell  you  all  about  it,  and  then  you'll  understand.  You  s^e, 
I  said  I  didn't  want  any  pay,' and  I  don't.  Lll  i)ay  my- 
self, every  time,  and  don't  you  forget  it.  I  don't'  want 
anybody  else  lying  awake  nights  worrying  about  how 
Pat  Maguire's  going  to  come  out  of  a  deal.  That's  my 
department,  and  I  look  after  it  every  time.  Yes-sir-ee. 
But  you  think  I'm  hogging  this  money  to  myself  and  not 


=:;il 


86 


The  Victors 


i 


11  :t 

E.  1      - 


?!  i 


fiiy'mg  value  received.  That's  where  you're  away  off. 
It's  straight  as  a  string,  bargain  and  sale,  cash  down, 
money  paid,  got  the  tin,  signed,  sealed  and  delivered,  wit- 
ness my  hand,  and  everybody  satisfied,  'specially  P.  Ma- 
guire.  Esquire.  It's  just  like  this.  I  don't  charge  'cm 
nothing  for  my  valuable  services,  nary  a  red.  But  I  make 
a  little  on  a  deal,  as  we  all  do.  I  buy  eleven  votes  for  one 
dollar  apiece,  market  price,  no  dickering,  cash  paid,  goods 
delivered  and  no  questions  asked.  Them  votes  is  mine, 
but  I've  no  particular  use  for  'em.  I'm  buying  to  sell 
again  same's  any  respectable  merchant. 

"  All  right ;  I  look  round  for  a  market,  I  charge  five 
dollars   apiece    for    my    stock,    and    it  can't    be    bought 
cheaper,  for  I've  got  a  corner  on  the  marlcet.     All  right ; 
money  is   turned  over,    and  to-morrow  I    turn  over   the 
goods.     Everybody's  satisfied,  and  the  goose  hangs  high. 
What  could   be  honester  than  that?     Honest!     Well   I 
should  smile !     That's  just  my  weak  point.     Whv.  what 
would   a   dishonest   man   have   done?     He  would   have 
pocketeu  the  whole  fifty-five  dollars,  jumped  his  board 
bill,  skipped  by  the  light  of  the  moon,  and  it  would  have 
been  '  good-bye,  John.'    Nobody  could  have  said  a  durned 
word,  except  your  father  for  me  boarding  free.     Yes,  sir, 
I  could  have  come  right  back  here  and  nobodv  dared've 
put  a  hand  on  me,  for  they  know  what  the  money's  sub- 
scribed for..     Rut  I'm  an  honest  man,  and  I'm  losing  just 
twe"ty-one  dollars  by  it;  there's  eleven  dollars  for  the 
voters  and  ten  dollars  for  my  board  bill.     I'm  not  such  a 
fool  as  to  say  '  honesty's  the  best  policv  '  when  you  lose 
twenty-one  dollars  by  it,  but  that's  me'evcrv  time.     I'm 
a  square  man,  I  am,  and  I  give  you  notice^  Lottie,  I'm 
coming  back  to  this  here  district,  and  I  want  to  come 
back  with  a  clean  conscience  and  have  people  glad  to  see 
me.     I'm  not  jumping  no  board  bills  ^his  trip.'    No.  sir." 
During  this  enunciation  of  principle  there  was.  at  times, 
a  suggestion  of  pathos  in  the  tones  of  the  sneaker's  voice! 
alternating  with  the  reverberation  of  that  earnest  indig- 
nation which  comes  upon  a  man  unjustly  censured.     Few 
of  us  submit  patiently  to  the  accusation  of  the  lack  of  some 
quality  on  whose  possession  we  pride  ourselves. 


*'  His  dishonesty  appears 


87 


"  You  have  no  right  to  the  money,"  persisted  the  girl 
with  a  woman's  perverse  ignoring  of  the  inevitahleness 
of  logic. 

"  Then  who  has  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know.  It  should  be  used  as  it  was  intended 
to  be  used,  and  if  there  is  any  left  over  that  should  be 
given  back  to  those  who  subscribed  it." 

"  Well  of  all  the—  Xow,  if  that  doesn't  beat  the 
Dutch !  That  gets  me  right  where  I  live !  Used  as  was 
intended?  My  stars,  if  it  is  and  the  government  finds  it 
out,  then  them  that  subscribed  will  go  to  state  prison 
where  they  belong.  Used  as— my  land  o'  (k)shei: — to 
buy  votes !  To  bribe  hard-working  men  to  vote  against 
their  consciences,  so  that  the  schemes  of  these  plotters  will 
come  out  all  right!  And  me — here  I've  been  a-working 
like  a  dozen  niggers  for  nearly  two  weeks,  neglecting  mv 
own  business,  and  now  it  don't  none  of  it  belong  to  me! 
I'm  to  tramp  my  half-soles  off,  talk  till  I  need  a  carload  of 
lozenges  U-<  get  my  throat  smooth  again,  slave  early  and 
late,  and  then  they're  to  say,  '  We're  much  obliged,  Ma- 
guire ;  you  can  go  to  grass  now  we're  through  with  you.' 
And  what  those  honest  farmers  want  me  to  do,  and  ex- 
pect me  to  do  for  nothing,  is  a  crime  against  the  law  that 
men  are  put  in  jail  for." 

"  Then  you  shouldn't  do  it." 

"  It's  easy  to  say  that,  but  what  would  they  think  of 
me  going  back  on  them  at  the  last  moment?  I'd  be  a 
fine  kind  of  a  sneak,  wouldn't  I?  " 

"  Better  that  than  do  wrong." 

"But  it  isn't  really  wrong;  it\  against  the  law,  that's 
all.  It's  done  every  day  at  every  election  in  the  country 
more  or  less,  gen'Uy  more,  I  guess.'' 

"  That  doesn't  make  it  right.  You  should  give  back 
the  money." 

"  WHiat  would  your  father  say  ?  " 

"What  could  "he  say?  I'm  sure  he  didn't  know  the 
money  was  to  be  used  to  commit  a  crime." 

"  But  I  tell  you  people  don't  look  at  it  that  way.  He 
doesn't,  neither  does  any  other  sensible  man.  You've  got 
to  do  this  sort  of  thing  or  get  beat." 


1 


ii 


88 


The  Victors 


"  Well,  let  them  get  beaten.  That  doesn't  matter,  but 
the  other  does." 

''  I've  g-one  too  far  now.     I  can't  go  back  on  them." 

"  If  you  have,  then  don't  return  here,  either  now  or 
at  any  other  time." 

"  .S^y- Lottie,  you  don't  mean  that.  You're  just  angry, 
thats  all.  When  you  come  to  think  over  it  you'll  see 
how  unreasonable  you  are." 

The  girl  remained  silent,  and  Maguire  pushed  back 
the  table  gathered  up  the  money  that  was  on 

•'  Won't  you  give  that  ten  dollars  to  your  mother?  " 
Lottie  shook  her  head;  her  eyes  were  moist,  but  she 
loj)ked  unflmchmgly  at  him  as  if  to  read  his  ultimate  pur- 

1  ^11  right,  then ;  I'll  give  it  to  her  myself." 
We  am't  going  to  charge  you  anything  for  your 
board.    I  told  you  we  didn't  keep  a  boarding-house  " 

Lottie  was  determined  to  leave  him  no  escape  from 
doing  what  she  thought  was  right.     Maguire,  with  bent 
head   seenied  to  be  marking  time.    He  separated  the  sil- 
ver from  the  paper  somewhat  aimlesslv.  and  rolling  up  the 
bills  slipped  them  into  one  pocket.    He  counted  the  silver 
once  or  twice,  then  shovelled  it  into  another  pocket.    The 
ten  single-dollar  notes  were  still  on  the  table,  and  he  ran 
each   throu:,rh   his   fingers   carefully,   pulled   himself   to- 
gether, raised  Ins  head  suddenlv,  then  said  sharply  • 
You  won  t  take  them?  "      ' 
"  No." 
"  All  right." 

He  pulled  out  the  roll  he  had  placed  in  his  pocket  the 
girl  watching  him  intently,  and  selected  a  dollar  bill 
from  the  wad  which  he  placed  with  the  ten  dollars,  mak- 
ing the  total  eleven  dollars,  the  exact  amount  needed  to 
bribe  the  free  and  independent  electors,  as  the  girl  noted 
these  he  put  in  a  vest  pocket,  and  the  rest  he  returned  to 
their  former  resting-place. 

''  Good-bye,"  he  said,  holding  out  his  hand. 
Good-bye."  she  replied,  with  a  catch  in  hervoice.her 


His  dislionesty  appears 


89 


hands  behind  her  back,  as  she  had  been  taught  to  hold 
them  at  school,  and  there  they  remained. 

Maguire  paused  a  moment  with  outstretched  hand  un- 
taken,  then  turned  sharply  on  his  heel  and  went  out, 
closing  the  door  with  no  gentle  pull  behind  him,  leaving 
the  girl  motionless  in  the  centre  of  the  room. 


i!l 


CHAPTER  VII 


BUY      EM     TO    SELL    AGAIN, 


It  is  said  that  a  man  feels  better  just  after  breakfast 
than  just  before,  but  Maguirc,  on  this  occasion,  was  an 
exception  to  the  rule.  He  had  come  to  the  farmhouse  in  a 
state  of  ecstatic  admiration  of  himself ;  he  was  leaving  it 
in  a  condition  of  mental  gloom  and  depression  that  was 
the  more  bitter  because  of  the  injustice  which  caused  it. 
It  is  disappointing  enough  to  miss  the  appreciation  a  man 
knows  to  be  his  due,  but  to  meet  unreasoning  censure 
when  the  appetite  of  expectation  is  whetted  for  merited 
commendation,  arouses  anger  against  the  stupidity  of  our 
fellow-creatures.  He  liked  the  girl,  too,  better  than  any 
one  he  had  ever  met  before ;  still,  he  said  to  himself,  there 
were  as  good  fish  in  the  sea  as  had  ever  been  taken  out 
of  it,  and,  business  being  business,  he  had  no  intention  of 
letting  anything  she  said  interfere  with  his  plans.  If  she 
chose  to  take  an  unpractical  view  of  things,  that  was 
her  lookout ;  such  sentiments  as  she  had  expressed,  be- 
sides being  unjust,  were  no  good  in  an  everyday  world. 
Still  it  was  all  very  disheartening,  and  he  could  not 
rid  his  mind  of  the  image  of  the  girl  standing  there, 
resolute,  her  eyes  unwavering,  but  brimming  with  un- 
fallen  tears. 

Patrick  harnessed  the  horse,  cursing  the  straps,  to  the 
buckling  cf  which  he  was  unaccustomed,  in  bad  humour 
with  himself  and  the  world,  but  now  and  then  his  hand 
touched  the  lump  caused  by  the  roll  of  bills  in  his  pocket, 
and  the  undoubted  presence  of  the  money  sent  a  little 
financial  electric  thrill  through  him  that  more  and  more 
began  to  compensate  for  the  disadvantages  that  had  fol- 
lowed its  getting. 

He  sprang  into  the  light  waggon  and  drove  away.  It 
90 


^ 


"  Buy  'em  to  sell  again  "  91 

would   have  served   everybody   right   if  he  simply  had 
kept  on  to  the  south  until  he  crossed  the  state  line  into 
Ohio,  letting  them  whistle  for  their  moncv ;  but,  being  an 
honest  man,  he  would  adhere  rigidly  to  ii'is  bargain     He 
would  pay  the  money  to  the  voters  and  be  done  with  if 
then  he  would  buy  horse  and  waggon  as  agreed,  shake  the 
dust^  of  .Michigan  from  the  wheels  and  peddle  his  wav 
to  .New  \ork.    Meditating  thus,  he  jogged  slowly  along 
the  dusty  road  until  he  heard  coming  up  rapidly  behind 
him  the  gentle  purr  of  a  buggy.    Looking  over  his  shoul- 
der he  saw  a  natty  turn-out.  driven  by  a  well-dressed  man 
1  he  sun  glistened  on  the  polished  black  box  of  the  bu-^gy 
as  If  It  shone  on  glass,  and  the  sand  poured  from  "the 
sparkling  wheels  as  if  it  were  water  from  the  paddles  of 
a  steamer     The  spokes  glittered  in  the  sunlight  like  a 
revolving  firework.    The  cover  of  the  buggy  was  laid  flat 
aft,  and  a  white  net  to  keep  off  the  flies  covered  the 
spirited,  speedy  horse.     The  whole  combination  was  in 
striking  contrast  to  the  dilapidated  belongings  of  Maguire 
who  turned  to  the  side  of  the  road  to  let  tne  more  rapid 
conveyance  pass  him,  as  was  the  courteous  custom.    The 
oncomer,   however,   did  not   pass,  but  casting  a  sharp 
glance  at  the  man  in  the  light  waggon  pulled  up  sharply. 

^^  Your  name  Maguire  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  That's  what  they  call  me." 

"  J^^J^^^,'Jr'°°'^'"^  for  you  this  some  time  back." 
Yes?    Well,  I  ain't  very  hard  to  find.    Always  at 
the  othce  during  business  hours." 

"Where's  your  office?" 

"  In  this  here  waggon." 

The  stranger  laughed.  He  was  a  smooth-faced, 
shrewd-looking  man,  whose  age  it  was  impossible  to 
guess  by  looking  at  his  keen  face. 

T. '  ^^S'm^  *^^^"^  ^"^^^  ^"  interest  in  this  ditch  contest, 
I  m  told.  ' 

"Oh,  so  so.  Just  enough  to  make  things  a  bit  lively,  you 

u'  ?,?  ^  ^^^^'    ^^'^'^'  ^^^  y^"  ^°*"?^  to  make  out  of  it '  " 

Well,  now,  stranger,"  drawled  Maguire,  throwing  a 

leg  over  the  edge  of  the  seat,  "  I've  been  expecting  that 


:^! 


I 


I 


I 


92 


The  Victors 


question,  and  to  speak  right  down  friendly  with  you,  not 
to  have  the  secret  go  any  further,  I'm  just  a  leetle  tired  of 
it.     See?" 

"  Been  asked  it  several  times,  eh  ?  Well,  I  don't 
wonder.    You're  a  stranger  here,  1  understand." 

"  I  zvas  a  stranger,  but  I  guess  there  ain't  anyone  better 
known  in  the  district  than  me  to-day,  and  they'll  know 
still  more  of  me  to-morrow." 

"That  so?  Well,  to  come  back  to  the  question  you 
don't  like,  what  do  you  expect  to  make  out  of  this  ?  " 

"  I  expect  to  make  you  folks  sick,  for  one  thing,"  said 
Maguire   serenely. 

"  Why  do  you  say  '  you  folks  '  ?  I  haven't  got  anything 
to  do  with  it." 

"  You  wouldn't  be  here  chinning  me  if  you  hadn't." 

"  I'm  not  a  voter  in  this  section." 

"  I  dare  say ;  neither  am  I,  yet  I've  got  this  thing  cop- 
pered all  the  samey." 

"  I'm  not  so  sure  of  that." 

"  That's  why  I'm  telling  you." 

"  I'm  not  so  sure  of  it  even  atter  you  tell  me." 

"  All  right,  then,  drive  on.  You'll  be  sure  of  it  to- 
morrow night.    Good-bye ;  so  long." 

"  Oh,  there's  no  hurry.  Id  like  to  have  a  little  talk  with 
you.  Let's  drive  down  the  road  to  the  woods,  where 
there's  some  shade.  Its  going  to  be  another  powerful 
hot  day." 

'•  I  don't  know  as  there's  much  use  us  having  a  talk, 
but  I  can  spend  the  time  if  you  can.  You  drive  on  and 
I'll  get  there  sooner  or  later.  My  ho-se  is  Kentucky 
blood,  as  you  can  see,  but  it's  rather  uis.ouraged  this 
while  back,  knowing  what  concerned  fools  there  are  on 
the  other  side  of  this  here  voting  business." 

The  man  in  the  buggy  made  no  reply,  but  drove  rapidly 
to  the  shade  of  the  forest.  Maguire  following  him  more 
leisurely..  Once  together  under  the  grateful  shadow  of 
the  trees  it  seemed  as  if  they  two  were  alone  in  the  world. 
The  hot  air  quivered  above  the  long,  straight  white  road, 
and  even  the  birds  in  the  shadow  were  silent  because  of 
the  increasing  heat.     From  the  distance  cr.me  to  their 


Buy    em  to  sell 


again 


93 


fn  fl    fi  ff'Juec ,  incessant  chatter  of  a  reaping  macliine 

n  the  fields,  and  now  and  then  the  clear  whet-whet  of  a 

blade  being  sharpened   by   some   farmer   who   was   still 

usmg  the  ancient  cradle  for  swinging  down  his  sta.idi.ig 

cxne^^r^n  n?.l''"''\}'^"^  '''  '''''  principles,  what  do  vot, 
expect  to  make  m  this  here  campaitjn  ?    1  kncnv  this  nart 

?.  V    ,    %l     l""'  '■''''■'-"  '""^  '""^'I'  •"""'-'v  in  it." 
own  it""?"  ^''''^'  ^  ^'''^^y  "'^"^  '••-'  >o^''v^'  ffot.     Do  you 

.^^';Ves.     It  doesn't  look  like  a  livery  stable  get-up.  does 

tnhi\'^''   V'''^'^  '"''•■  I,.^^'""S:l't  it  was  yours.  You  seem 
to  be  ah.e  to  pick  up  a  httle  something  in  this  locality." 
un,  1  manage  to  make  a  living;  yes  " 

din^ SJfiSlk'"  """  '"^■'"^^'"  -'^^  ^^^^--'  -'^- 
"  Well,  tliat's  what  I  don't  understand.  How  are  vou 
going  to  make  a  living  on  this  tack?  I  k  ow  these  iikmi 
and  hey  are  as  close-fisted  as  the  old  ilarrv.  Thev  te  i 
me  that  you  re  doing  all  this  for  nothing,  and' that 
they  ve  got  the  thing  fixed  so  that  you  can't  make  a  cen 

nteresS'  T!  ''  'T  "'''  '^'^'^''  ''^"''  ^'"^  J^^  "-^--"v^ 

hnn^t.  ,         °'^    ''^'''    -'■°"  ""^    ^°'".^    to    work    it.        I 

"So  I  can,  but  as  it  happens  this  isn't  mv  dav  Fm  giv- 
ing thmgs  away.    Call  round  after  the  polling,  and  if  you 

foods'''  S  ?'f'°r  ^^'^"^  ^^'^  '^"  '''     ""^  '^^^^^  to  sh'cnv 
goods       Satisfaction    guarancced    or    monev    refunded 

£>f''''"^':T''  ""^  ""'^  -'•'"  ^''•^•"-  at?  Do  vou  think 
here  s  anything  to  be  made  out  of  me  bv  beating  'round 
he  bush?  If  you  do.  you're  fooling  awav  vour  time. 
Look  m  my  eye  and  tell  me  if  you  see  any  green  there 
Youve  asked  me  a  whole  lot  of  questions,  and  I've  an- 
swered them  hke  a  gentleman.  Xc^w,  let  m'e  ask  vou  on  . 
VV  hat  s  your  game  '  ' 

The  man  in  the  buggy  gazed  intentlv  at  the  other  for  a 
few  seconds  before  he  replied.    Then  he  said  quietly: 


Hi'Kl 


I    -i 


94 


The  Victors 


"  I'm  a  contractor.  I've  pot  this  ditcli  contract  -ecured, 
if  it  goes  tliroup;h,  and  there's  some  httle  money  to  be 
made  on  the  deal,  ahhoujjh  not  any  too  much." 

"  I  sec.  Then,  why  in  tliundcr  didn't  you  look  after 
your  fences  a  liale  better  before  this  time  of  day?  " 

"  Well,  to  tell  the  truth,  I  thought  we  had  a  sure 
thing,  and  so  we  had,  if  Maguire  hadn't  happened  along. 
If  I'd  had  a  week's  warning  I  could  have  knocked  you 
sky  high.  I  can  do  it  yet,  but  being  a  contractor  and 
having  no  vote  in  this  (listrict,  I  thought  it  would  look 
better  if  I  kept  out  of  it.    That's  why  I  conic  to  you." 

"  Could  a-knocked  me  sky  high,  could  you  ?  I  wish 
you'd  come  in  a  little  sooner;  we'd  a-had  some  fun.  I 
tell  you  vvhat  it  is,  contractor :  it  would  cost  you  a 
thousand  dollars  to  beat  me  nov\. " 

"  Shucks,  you  don't  know  what  you're  talking  about. 
But  I  don't  want  to  beat  you,  I  want  to  make  terms  with 
you.  That's  why  I'm  here,  and  that's  why  I  ask  you  what 
you  expect  to  make  against  me." 

"  You  always  say,  '  expect  to  make.'  Now,  that's 
where  you're  on  the  wiong  tack.  I  don't  expect  to  make  ; 
I've  made.  Look  at  that.  That's  a  roll  of  ten-dollar  bills, 
and  there's  a  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  in  that  wad. 
Here's  another  with  not  so  much  in  it.  That's  going  to 
the  free  and  independents,  where  it  will  do  the  most  good, 
but  not  the  mosi  good  to  a  contractor.  This  other  pocket 
j'agles,  but  it's  with  silver,  so  we  won't  count  that.  All 
this  boodle  was  in  the  possession  of  old  Slade  this  morn- 
ing; it's  in  my  pocket  now.  Doing  this  thing  for  noth- 
ing?   What's  your  opinion." 

"  I  was  told  they  only  raised  sixty  or  seventy  dollars  at 
the  meeting." 

'•  At  the  meeting !  "  cried  Maguire,  contemptuously, 
stuffing  the  bills  he  had  exhibited  into  his  pocket  again, 
taking  care  that  their  small  denominations  were  not  visi- 
ble to  the  keen  eyes  of  his  opponent.  "  Yes,  there  wa'n't 
much  more  than  "that  raised  at  the  meeting;  but  I've  been 
round  collecting  ever  since  and  have  scared  these  people 
with  th  ^  ten-years'  taxation  that's  ahead  of  them,  so  they 
gave  (.own.  Oh,  you  bet,  there's  a  lot  of  money  to  be 
raised  round  here  if  you  go  the  right  way  about  it." 


I 


f 


"  Buy  'cm  to  sell  again  '* 


95 


*'  Still,  even  if  y^u  spend  all  that  c^sli  it  would  only 
take  a  couple  of  hundred  cljjlars  to  Inat  you." 

"  Don't  you  make  any  mistake.  Vou  couldn't  do  it 
with  a  thousand,  and  I'd  just  like-  to  sec  you  try.  ^"''hy, 
I'd  raise  the  country.  I'd  say,  '  Here's  this  contractor  a- 
jumpinff  in,  spending  a  dollar  to  loot  a  hundred  out  of 
you.'  Lord,  it  would  be  too  dead  easy  to  beat  you !  Hut 
I  gue.ss  you're  no  such  fool  as  to  try  it  on,  for  you 
know  it's  always  easier  to  buy  one  man  than  twenty,  and 
cheaper,  too.  You  said  you  wanted  to  make  terms. 
Well,  you've  left  it  a  little'  late,  but  still  you're  in  time. 
If  you've  got  any  proposition  to  shove  at  me  I'll  listen  to 
it.    That'f  what  I'm  here  for." 

"  Can  y  u  clear  a  hundred  dollars  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  more." 

"  Well,  you  can't  da  better  than  a  hundred  and  fifty. 
Now,  I'll  tell  you  what  I'll  do  with  you.  I'll  bet  you 
two  hundred  against  your  hundred  and  fifty  that  this 
ditch  is  lost.  If  the  polling  goes  for  the  ditch  you 
pocket  two  hundred  dollars  and  get  back  the  money 
you  staked." 

"  I'm  not  a  betting  man.  'Tain't  moral.  No,  sir.  In 
God  we  trust ;  all  others  cash.  I  ain  t  taking  no  risks,  and 
I  ain't  doing  no  betting,  being  contrary  to  the  way  I  was 
raised;  a  hundred  and  fifty  in  the  pocket's  better'n  two 
hundred  in  an  umpire's  hands,  with  the  hundred  and 
fifty  risked  as  well.    That  bluflf  won't  work." 

"  There  isn't  any  bluff  about  it.  If  you  act  square  you 
get  your  money;  if  you  don't  you  wont.  Nothing  could 
be  fairer." 

Maguire,  with  a  deep  si  ,h,  gathered  up  the  reins. 

"Now,  can  there?"  persisted  the  man,  evidently  get- 
ting a  little  anxious  at  the  other's  threatened  withdrawal. 

"  O,  that's  too  dead  easy.  You  tie  up  my  money  till  the 
voting's  over  ;  then  you  squeal  and  say  betting's  agin  some 
state  Uiw,  and  where  am  I  ?  I  do  hate  to  be  taken  for  a 
fool.  You'll  dig  that  ditch  the  way  the  old  woman  kept 
tavern.    Gocfd-day." 

"  Hold  on.  No  good  of  getting  mad  about  it.  I've 
made  a  proposition;  if  it  don't  Sdi  you.  then  make  an- 


m 


.\ 


96 


The  Victors 


other.    I'm  willinjij  to  do  anything  fair,  as  lon^^'s  my  in- 
terests are  protected." 

"  How  you  talk.  Interests  protected !  You  can't  have 
interests  protected  in  a  case  like  this.  You  either  trust  mo 
or  you  don't ;  I  (hdn't  j^o  to  you ;  you  came  to  me.  All 
rijjht ;  I'm  a  s(|uare  man,  ami  I  do  what  I  say.  If  you 
doti't  know  enoujjfh  about  a  n.an  to  see  that,  after  talkin;,' 
with  him  an  hour,  tlu-n  put  the  hud  on  your  hors.'  and  Ro 
home.     .\o  use  in  wastinj^  my  time." 

"  Well,  then,  make  a  proposal." 

"  .\11  rii^ht,  entirely  on  your  account  and  to  save  hard 
feelinjjfs,  I  will.  I'll  trust  you  fifty  dollars.  You  j)ay  me 
a  hundred  and  fifty  cash  down  rijj^ht  here,  and  I'll  call 
round  at  your  place  day  after  to-morrow  and  get  the 
other  fifty." 

"  You  don't  expect  that  L  travel  round  with  that  much 
money  on  me  ?  " 

"  If  you  don't,  then  you've  lost  vour  darned  old 
ditch,  that's  all." 

"  \\  hat  security  have  I  that  you  won't  take  the  money 
and  still  work  against  me  ?  " 

"  None  at  all." 

"  Oh,  that's  not  good  enough." 

" 'Xuf  sed.     You  refuse,  tlien  ?  " 

'*  No  sane  man  could  do  anything  else  but  refuse  such 
ar  offer  from  an  entire  stranger  ' 

"  I  expected  you  to  refuse,  and  that's  why  I  made  the 
offer.  Men  who  get  big  contracts  are  the  inen  who  take 
just  such  big  chances.  You  ain't  no  contractor;  you're 
some  contractor's  clerk.  You  go  back  home,  sonny,  and 
tell  your  boss  to  come  and  see  me,  then  we'll  fix  this 
thing  up  in  ten  minutes." 

"  I'll  tell  you  vvliat  I'll  do.  I'll  give  you  a  hundred 
dollars  down,  and  you  come  for  the  other  hundred  day 
after  to-morrow." 

"  No;  you  just  think  you're  going  to  do  that.  You're 
dreaming  on  account  of  the  hot  weather.  Now,  I'll  tell 
you  what  you'll  do,  and  you'll  do  it  within  the  next  ten 
minutes  or  not  at  all.  You'll  pay  me  plump  down  two 
hundred  dollars,  and  then  you'll  get  your  ditch  and  no 


"His  dishonesty  appears  " 


97 


questions  asked.  There's  two  men  cominp  along  the 
road,  and  they'll  be  here  in  less  than  hah  an  hour.  Now 
when  they  get  on  the  top  of  the  next  rise  you'll  have 
taken  or  refused  my  offer,  and  you  won't  pet  another." 

''  ]?ut  you  made  me  a  better  offer  a  few  minutes  ago." 

" '\'es.  and  you  didn't  lu;ve  the  sense  to  take  it.  and 
durn  me  i'  I  believe  you're  jjoinj;  to  have  the  sense  .. 
take  this  one,  which  is  exactly  the  same  offer  if  you  onlv 
knew  it.  I  haven't  raised  the  price  a  cent,  for  I'd  a-had 
the  fifty  dollars  that  makes  up  the  two  hundred  within 
forty-eifjht  hours,  or  thereabouts." 

''^  'Vou're  sure  I  would  have  paid  it,  then?" 

"  Certain.  J  can  see  in  a  minute  you're  .square,  and 
the  only  thinj^  tliat  eats  me  is  that  vou  haven't  the  gump- 
tion to  see  that  I  am." 

"  Then,  if  you  trust  me  as  you  say.  whv  do  you  objcc'i 
to  wait  a  couple   )f  days  for  your  money?  " 

"  .Simply  because"  this  is  an  uncertain  world.  That 
horse  may  throw  you  out  and  break  vour  neck  on  the 
way  home,  and  then  I  couldn't  collect.'  There's  no  such 
danjrer  from  my  liorse.  lUit  you  take  such  a  lonp  time 
about  a  deal  that  you  make  me  tired,  and  more  than  that 
you  make  me  want  to  po  ri,dit  on  with  this  ■  ontest  and 
bust  you  wide  open  so  that  you'll  have  more  sense  next 
time  you  meet  a  gentleman  and  don't  know  it.  I'd  only 
lost  fifty  dollars  by  do:ng  it.  and  I'd  have  more  than  the 
worth  of  that  in  fun.  I  don't  even  know  vour  name,  and 
don't  want  to;  but  I'd  shout,  mad  clear  through,  to  the 
free  and  independents  tliat  some  man  with  a  bay  horse 
that  had  a  white  net  over  it.  and  a  new  covered  buggy 
with  the  cover  down,  slick  as  a  whistle,  a  smooth-faced 
man,  who  looked  as  if  he  was  up  to  snuflF  and  said  he  was 
a  contractor,  wanted  to  buy  me  for  two  hundred  dollars  so 
that  he  would  have  a  free  swing  to  make  thousands  out 
of  the  poor  unfortunate  taxpayer.  I'll  bet  you  they 
wouldn't  be  long  in  telling  me  the  name  of  that  man, 
and  they'd  believe  all  I  said,  too." 

"  I  doubt  if  they  would  believe  you  refused  the  two 
hundred.  If  I  take  this  oflter,  what  are  you  going  to  do 
with  that  cash  you  have  in  your  pocket  ?  " 


m 


j 


■■  .:  ! 


98 


T'^e  Victors 


"  I'll  turn  ri^ht  round  and  jj:ivc  it  hack  to  old  Sladc, 
telling  him  my  conscience  will  not  allow  ine  to  corrupt 
the  free  and  independent  voters,  lies  scared  already  of 
the  bribery  act ;  that's  how  I  ^oi  ilic  money  out  of  h'.M, 
and  I'll  make  nim  scareder  by  saying:  tl>c  other  side  is 
on  the  lookout  to  Ret  some  o.^e  in  state's  prison  on  this 
deal.  Say,  them  two  men's  dis.|)i)eared  down  the  hol- 
low, and  they  will  be  in  sij^ht  in  anrther  minute  or  two." 

"  How  about  the  voters  vou've  l)ar:::ained  with?  " 

"  Ch,  them  1  That's  dead  easy.  I'll  p^o  to  each  of  hem 
and  tell  'em  it  was  wrong  of  them  to  say  they  would  take 
money,  and  that  the  "  morally  bound  to  vote  against 
the  ditch  anyhow,  witn.  at  payment." 

"Against  the  ditch?" 

"  Cert.  That'll  make  'em  so  durn  mad,  with  losing  the 
money  and  all,  that  they'll  vote  for  it,  just  to  throw  me 
down.  Nothing  makes  a  man  so  fighting  mad  as  to  do  the 
superior  act  ..ith  him  and  let  on  your  conscience  is  a 
trifle  better'n  his'n ;  then  if  you  go  on  a-pointing  out  to 
him  the  right  path  and  imploring  him  to  foUer  it,  like  a 
preacher  at  a  revival  meeting,  why  he'll  knock  you  down 
if  he  dare,  or  vote  agin  yor.  if  you're  bigger'n  him." 

"  Well,  I  guess  there's  something  in  that,"  remarked 
the  contractor,  with  a  smi'p.  "  I'll  accept  your  offer, 
Maguire,  and  I'll  trust  you."  Saying  this  he  took  out  a 
broad  pocketbook  from  inside  his  coat,  slipped  an  elastic 
band  from  it.  «lisplaying  a  flat  heap  of  greenbacks,  then 
counted  the  reduisite  number  with  care,  slipping  each 
bill  between  thumb  and  finger.  He  handed  the  result  to 
Maguire,  who  also  cou  ited  it  over,  found  it  correct, 
doubled  it  up  and  put  it  into  a  pocket  as  nonchalantly 
as  if  he  completed  such  a  tiansaction  several  t;mes  a 
day. 

The  man  in  the  buggy  gathered  up  his  reins  slowly,  as 
if  reluctant  to  go,  being  probably  in  some  doubt  regard- 
ing the  wisdom  of  the  loose  and  costly  bargain  he  had 
made. 

"  I  suppose  you'll  wait  in  the  neighbourhood  till  after 
the  polling?" 

"  No,  1  don't  think  so.     I've  got  no  more  interest  in 


*'  Buy    cm  to  sell  again  "  99 

the  affair,  and  have  li)st  enough  time  on  it  already.  I'm 
goinp  east." 

"  VVhat's  your  husiness?  " 

"  I'm  doinK'  a  httle  peddlinjj  at  present,  but  I  don't 
expect  to  keep  at  that  lonj,'.     Not  enough  money  in  it." 

"  Better  call  round  and  see  me  at  Ypsilanti.  I  could 
perhaps  put  you  on  somethinfj  that  would  be  worth 
while." 

"  I  Ruess  Xew  York's  pot  more  loose  cash  lylnj;  round 
than  Ypsilanti." 

"  Shouldn't  wonder.  Yet  it  might  be  harder  to  pick 
up." 

"  That's  what  I  want  to  fin<l  out." 

"  Well,  good-bye." 

"  So  long.     See  you  later,  maybe." 

The  man  did  not  need  to  touch  his  horse  with  the  whip ; 
a  slight  chirrup,  and  me  animal  was  off  like  a  flash*,  the 
bright  wheels  .winkling  in  and  out  the  bars  of  sunliglu 
that  crossed  the  road  falling  through  the  interstices  of  the 
forest,  and  in  a  very  short  time  there  was  merely  a  little 
cloud  of  dust  in  the  far  distance  to  indicate  the  passing 
of  the  speculator. 

Maguire  sat  complacently  whern  he  was,  the  unaspiring 
horse  requiring  no  attentioti,  content  to  remain  uncom- 
plaining in  the  shade  as  long  as  his  master  was  willing. 
The  young  man  turned  his  head  in  the  opposite  direction 
and  watched  the  two  ai)i)r()aching,  whom  he  now  rec- 
ognised as  Ben  and  Jim,  tramphig  wearily  together. 
He  had  seen  little  of  them  during  the  last  ten  days. 
They  had  adhered  loyally  to  their  compact,  and  now  the 
time  was  come  for  the  completing  of  the  bargain.  They 
had  quite  palpably  avoided  Maguire  since  the  morning; 
they  made  terms  with  him  in  the  barnyard,  keeping  as 
much  as  possible  to  themselves  and  never  using  horse 
and  waggon  when  he  showed  the  slightest  inclination  of 
desiring  them.  He  resented  the  aloofness  on  their  part 
as  indicating  a  belief  in  their  own  superiority  over  him. 
but  he  gave  no  hint  of  this  feeling,  speaking  to  them  with 
the  smoothness  of  oil  during  their  infrequent  and  chance 
meetmgs.     His  umbrage  increased  as  he  watched  them 


m 


__ 


100 


The  V'ctors 


ji 


pause  on  seeing  what  was  ahead  of  them,  consult  to- 
gether for  a  moment,  then,  with  the  air  of  making  the 
best  of  an  unavoidable  encounter,  come  slowly  on.  He 
awaited  them  with  equanimity,  resolved  on  that  form 
of  revenge  which  consists  of  burning  the  enemy's  head 
with  the  hot  coals  of  remorse. 


^-^^_ 


CHAPTER    VIII 


I    AXD    MV    PARTNER  " 

hot  .^S  tnuh  yri^^'^n'''  ^^''  -^^  '''  >'°"-    Say.  isn't  it 
noi.     ine  truth  is  I  vc  been  \vaitin<r  here  in  the  sli^iH,. 

and  I  don  t  seem  to  liave  any  luck;  for  I  jjuess  as  I  hive 

one  Z.ef::\{X''r  ^°  '''  ^""^^-  ^"''  -'-hcr'anv 
one  Shoves  me  back  there  or  not  I'm  just  like  the  ho^ 

But  three  rj  "","""  V""  ^^'"^^  ^"^  "^^  ^he  har     roacL 
>' u  f  h:mr::^,'f,  ';--.:„--  -^^  -  -^en  I  saw  it  was 

"What's  the  trouble?"  asked  P.en.  sitting  down  with 

leve  "hfcldH  '"  ^'r'",^^  "^  ^  •^'■^^^  beeclf  tree,  who 
fence  Itv/       f'\  '"'^"''''^  extended  far  across  the  rail 

^he  nonfl    ^'^'^  '^''  '"^'^  ^°""^^^'->'  ^f  the  wood.    "  Isn't 
"  Pf  "Sr  Sfoins:  your  way  to-morrow  ?  " 

Well,  that  s  just  the  point,"  returned  Patrick  sprino- 

hoL  to  hV^"   T'^-   '-'"^^'f  "^^'-  ^'---   lea^-inT^he 
ask  n.rT        r,"^"^''^'-       That's  just  the  pomt.    If  vou 

see   von  MU     Y  ^'^'  •  ^  ^'^'''  "  ^'"'^  ''^'•^''"'  '-^'^^^t.    You 

ever' since      r  l'"'  ^1"'","^^  '^''  '''^'''  ^''^^  °f  t'^<^  '^ad 
ever  smce  I  took  on  this  business,  and  so  I  don't  iust 

knovv  who  to  talk  to  when  T  f,et  in  a  comer"  ^ 

"  Cerflfnl    "'  ^i'^'?  '""  ^^''"^^  ^"•"  commented  Jim. 
Certainly,  and  Tm  ever  so  much  obliged.     I'm  not 

Wlow^'"-;^"'^'''"'-  Still,  when  all's  said  and  done  a 
fellow  would  sometimes  like  a  friendlv  word  chucked  in 
now  and  then,  and  perhaps  it  wouldn't  hurt  anvbodv'' 
A^  A  r-I  '.".  ^^■^'Obody  mindinff  his  own  business  " 
added  Jim  decisively.  "  You  are  plaving  vour  j^ame  and 
we^  have  no  ri-ht  to  look  over  vuur'  hand  - 

Are  you  just  dead  sure  of  that?    I'm  not.    Seems  to 

lOI 


i! 


': 


102 


Tlie  Victorji 


m 


■i  -., 


me  that  what  a  fellow-creature  docs  is  everybody's  busi- 
ness, more  or  less,  for  a  man  can't  do  most  anything  that 
doesn't  have  some  eflfect  on  other  people." 

"  You're  right,"  cried  the  conscientious  Ben.  "  How 
can  we  help  you  more  than  we've  done?" 

"  Well,  I'm  not  saying  you  can.  I'm  merely  talking 
about  this  wouldn't-touch-you-with-a-ten-foot-pole  kind 
of  a  way  you  look  at  me.  You  don't  seem  to  say  to  your- 
selves, '  We've  had  a  good  education,  and  this  fellow 
hasn't ;  perhaps  there's  some  things  he  don't  know  that 
we  might  give  him  a  pointer  on.'  See  what  I  mean? 
Now.  here  am  I.  I  asked  you  fellows  to  stand  by  me  for 
a  week  or  two.  and  you've  done  it,  right  down  to  the 
ground,  and  no  mistake.  Well,  now  it  struck  me  'ike 
t'lis,  what  right  have  I  to  interfere  with  those  two  fel- 
lovvs?    They  didn't  want  to  wait,  yet  I  made  'em." 

"Oh,if  that's  all  that's  bothering  you,"  said  Ben  frankly. 
"  it  doesn't  need  to  worry  you  a  moment  longer.  We  said 
we'cl  stay,  and  we've  done  so.  I  don't  know  that  our 
staying  has  been  much  of  a  success,  but  it's  been  about  as 
big  a  success,  I  guess,  as  if  we'd  gone  on.  We've  made 
enough  to  pay  our  board,  and  that's  more  than  we  were 
doing  when  you  first  met  us,  so  you  haven't  anything  to 
fret  about  on  our  account." 

"  All  right,  boys,  you're  white  men.  as  I've  always  said, 
and  I  guess  I'm  a  nigger,  when  you  come  to  size  me  up. 
But  I'll  tell  you  now  what  was  worrying  me,  and  it's  about 
this  here  election.  But  before  we  go  on,  there's  one 
thing  I  would  like  to  clear  up.  although  perhaps  you 
won't  think  any  better  of  me  for  doing  it.  When  I  told 
you  I  had  only  seven  dollars  and  couldn't  buy  the  horse 
and  waggon,  I  lied.  You  see,  I  wantc  youse  to  stay, 
and  so  I  told  a  whopper." 

"  That  didn't  do  much  harm,"  said  Jim  with  a  cynical 
lau'.?h,  "  for  we  didn't  believe  you  anyhow." 

Ben  looked  reproachfully  at  his  partner.  Maguire's 
eyes  narrowed  down  to  slits,  and  his  face  reddened  with 
anger.  Still  here  was  a  lesson  unconsciously  given  that 
confirmed  his  own  ideas.  One  of  the  few  truthful  state- 
ments he  had  made   had  been  received  with  incredulity. 


Ji 


^'  '-^"li^*^ 


jmm^^mam^- 


<( 


I  and  my  partner 


103 

so  the  vendible  nature  of  Truth  as  a  mercantile  commodity 

was  more  than  ever  in  doubt.  ' 

"  I  don't  think  you  ought  to  say  that,"  put  in  Ben,  with 

ome  emphasis     "  Or,  at  least,  you  should  speak  merely 

tor  yourself.     I  saw  no  reason  to  doubt  the  statement.'' 

well,  you  see  a  reason  for  doubting  it  now    Ben  " 

cried  Jim,  impatiently.     "  A  man's  straight  or  h'e  isn't. ' 

It   he  hasnt   gone   straight   and   intends  to   reform,   he 

doesn  t  say  much  about  what  he's  done,  but  he  reforms, 

ana  there  it  ends. 

"  It  all  depends  on  the  man,  Jim.  Because  one  man 
does  a  thing  one  way,  that's  not  saying  another  man  mav 
not  do  It  another  way.  There's  the  road  to  Ypsilanti, 
straight  ahead,  but  I've  no  doubt  you  could  reach  the 
place  If  you  cut  through  th.  <ields.  Go  ahead,  Maguire  • 
what  were  you  about  to  say  ?  "  &        ' 

Maguire  sigb^d  deeply  'and  continued  in  a  doleful 
voice. 

"  Oh,  I  suppose  Jim's  right  as  a  genn'l  thing.  I  guess 
the  average  human  man's  a  pretty  tougli  critter  when  you 
size  em  up  by  and  large.  And  I  guess,  too,  I'm  about 
the  worst  of  the  lot.  Perhaps  if  I'd  a-been  brought  up 
different  I  d  z-been  different,  but  I  dunno.  We  can't 
always  sometimes  most  genn'ly  tell,  and  it  makes  it  worse 
for  me  to  go  on  because  the  next  thing  in  my  way  is  an- 
other he,  though  very  likely  Jim  didn't  believe  it  at  the 
time. 

"  ()h.  go  on.  go  on!  "  shouted  Jim ;  "  let's  have  'em  all 
It  It  comes  to  that  I  suppose  I  could  match  lie  for  lie 
with  you,  but  I  m  not  bragging  about  them.  I'm  not 
pretending  to  be  any  better  than  the  next  man,  so  in 
heaven  s  name  go  on  and  don't  let  us  have  too  much  talk 
about  it,  that  s  all.' 

_  ''  Now,  Jim,  you're  hard  on  me,  that's  what  vou  arc 
right  down  hard  -i  me,  still  I've  no  call  to  complain  I 
deserve  it  all  and  more.  Well,  when  I  told  vou  I  didn't 
intend  to  make  anything  on  this  deal,  I  was  off  again- 
tor  I  did,  and  that's  what  I  went  into  it  for  " 

J\^''y^^  J"'^'^''  *'""^'  "!'•   ^•'^f-   ^^'^■■'-•'i   sli^ws  again 
that  a  .lar  shuulu  have  a  j^uod  memory.    You  didn't  tell 


J 

w 


\ 

- 

i 

i 

1 

«"> 

■ 

f 

1 

t 

A 

tr 

h 

:?!*v«sj:«pcjr  -wa^wiif"'"' 


I04 


Tlie  Victors 


[5  ■■ 
li 


Its  that,  and  if  you  had  we  wouldn't  have  believed  you. 
You  said  you  were  PToinj^  to  make  something  and  offered 
to  share  it,  which  offer  we  refused." 

'•  Good  enough ;  I'm  not  kicking.     I  told  it  to  so  many 
fellows  that  I  thought  I  told  it  to  you,  too.     Anvhow, 
here's  how  the  land  lies,  and  this  is'  what  is  biting  me.' 
They   raised   fifty-seven   dollars   at   the   meeting  to   buy 
enough  votes  to  knock  out  the  ditch.     I've  got  fiftv-fiv'e 
of  that  fifty-seven  right  here  in  my  pocket,  and  I've  got 
eleven  votes  as  soon  as  I  pay  a  dollar  apiece  for  thei.i. 
Then  I  make  forty-1.  ur  dollars  on  the  shuflle.    That's  what 
I  intended  to  do  from  the  first.  When  I  was  thinking  hard 
how  I  was  going  to  get  hold  of  this  monev,  I  didn't  think 
hard  about  whether  the  turn-over  was  honest  or  not.     A 
nujnth  ago  I  wouldn't  have  had  anv  doubts.     Since  then 
I'v','  met  you  and  some  other  white  folks,  so  I  drove  right 
here  into  the  shade  and  began  to  think  about  it.     I've 
worked  hard  for  these  people,  right  in  their  busiest  time, 
when   they   couldn't   spare  a  dav,  and   I   couldn't   have 
worked  harder  if  I  had  been  out' in  the  fields  with  them. 
If  I  had  been  in  the  fields  I  would  have  earned  and  been 
paid  my  money.     As  it  is  I  have  no  way  of  getting  paid 
for  what  I've  done  except  bv  bribing  these  people  and 
breaking  the  law,  so  I'm  in  a  'box." 

"  It's  a  box  very  easy  to  get  out  of,  and  it  shouldn't 
have  taken  you  long  to  make  up  vour  mind,  either,"  said 
Jim. 

"  Oh,  yes ;  that's  all  right,  Jim.  Of  course,  if  you  took 
your  shirt  off  we'd  find  a  nice  i)air  of  sweet  white  wings 
hanging  from  your  shoulder-blades,  neatlv  folded  so  as 
not  to  bulge  when  you  had  your  clothes  on';  but,  as  I  told 
you.  the-e  ain't  no  white  wings  on  me." 

"  Xo.  nor  flies,  either." 

"  Maguire,"  interrupted  P.en  solemnly,  "jnn  doesn't 
mean  to  be  as  harsh  as  his  words  sound,  and  he's  right 
when  he  says  that  it  shouldn't  have  taken  long  to  make'^up 
a  man's  mind  on  the  point  in  question.  It  is  a  pity  that 
you  said  you  did  not  want  anything  for  vour  work,  for  the 
laborer  is  worthy  of  his  hire ;  but,  having  said  so,  you 
must  stick  *.o  your  word.    If  you  do  the  right  thing,  and 


"  I  and  my  partner  "  105 

give  this  money  back  io  those  who  subscribed  it.  you  will 
be  amply  rewarded  for  your  present  loss  " 

"You  bet  he  will,"  said  Jim.  throwing  himself  back 
ajamst  the  rad  fence  and  laughmg  loudly.  Maguirc 
darted  one  malignant  glance  at  him,  and  nervously 
clenched  his  fist,  then  recovered  himself  and  assumed  the 
seraphic  expression  with  which  he  had  listened  to  Ben'^ 
solemn  assurances.  There  was  more  of  chagrin  than  re"- 
.sen  ment  on  r.en  s  countenance  at  the  callous  behaviour 
of  his  friend.  He  turned  .sorrowfully  to  the  man  of  the 
flee     "   '^^""'^'^'"^^  and  saw   nothing  suspicious   in   his 

decisively'!""'^  ^'""^  *''"  "'''"'■'  ^'"'^''  ^''  '^'^  •^'"^'y-  ^^^ 

"/.'"  i^""  !>'  ^^"'"  ^^""'^'^  ^laguire,  fervently,  "  but  you 
see  the  fix  1 !  m,  although  probably  Jim  doesn't.  These 
men  have  trusted  me,  and  if  I  throw  them  down  now  ifs 
too  late  for  them  to  do  anything,  and  the  votmg  will  go 
against  them.    That's  the  point  that  worries  me." 

VVhats  your  decision  on  that,  umpire?"  cried  Tim 
reclining  with  his  clasped  hands  behind  his  head.  "  Yoit' 
must  have  some  compassion  on  the  deluded  farmers 
Maguires  conscience  took  so  darned  long  to  get  into 
v'orking  order  that  you  must  confess  ifs  pretty  rough  on 
tKem  to  have  it  begin  skipping  round  the  very  day  before 
the  polling.  It  would  have  been  a  mighty  sight  more 
complimentary  to  us  and  the  other  white  m'c-n  who  influ- 
enced Maguire  for  good,  if  our  example  had  bitten  say 
a  week  sooner ;  then  the  anti-ditchers  v.  ould  have  had 
something  of  a  show." 

"  They  are  not  worth  a  moment's  consideration  "  was 
the  instant  decision  of  the  umpire.     "  They  would  have 
been  compounding  a  felony,  if  this  had  gone  on;  so  Mr 
Maguire  s  honest  determination,  which  I  sincerely  hope 
he  11  stick  to.  will  be  actually  doing  them  the  greatest 
favour  It  IS  possible  for  liim  to  bestow  on  them.     In  fact 
if  you  take  my  advice,  you  will  not  pay  back  the  moiey 
till  to-morrow  night,  when  it  will  be  too  late  fc/  any- 
one to  put  It  to  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  intended  " 
Right  you  are,  Ben ;  I'll  do  it  j-ist  as  vou  sa".     Now 


,  f 


n; 


?r 


ikj 


io6 


Hi  i 


4     « 


The  Victors 


you  see  what  it  is  to  have  a  clear-headed  friend  to  help 
you  steer  a  straight  course.  The  minute  you  speak,  why 
the  thing  is  as  plain  as  a  stump  fence,  and  now  I  don't 
wonder  at  Jim  saying  it  took  a  long  while  to  get  my  con- 
science in  working  order.  Of  course,  it  must'  seem 
so  to  youse,  but  I  was  brought  up  different.  So,  boys, 
that's  settled  and  out  of  the  way.  Now.  about  this  here 
rig.  I  said  I'd  give  you  twenty-five  dollars  for  it.  That 
'ud  be  cheating  you.  It's  worth  thirty,  and  I'll  give 
thirty." 

"  Oh  no.  Fair's  fair.  Twenty-five  dollars  it  is,  if  you 
say  so ;  but  we  don't  want  to  hold  vou  to  a  bargain  made 
in  a  hurry,  unless  you  want  to  be  held." 

"  I've  got  to  have  an  outfit  of  this  sort,  if  I'm  going  to 
peddle  clear  through  to  New  York,  and  I  couldn't  get 
one  from  the  farmers  round  here  at  anything  like  the 
price,  even  though  the  horse  wasn't  any  better.  So  it's 
a  go  at  thirty.     Your  advice  was  cheap  at  five  dollars." 

Jim  rose  lazily,  took  the  pack  that  he  had  been  carrying 
on  his  shoulders  and  threw  it  into  the  waggon. 

"  As  it  is  going  to  be  a  deal,"  he  said,  ''  there  goes  that 
accursed  knapsack.  If  the  soldier";  hate  to  carry  a 
shoulder  burden  as  badlv  as  I  do,  I  j  cy  them.  Take  the 
thirty,  Ben;  we'll  need  it." 

"We'll  take  just  what  we  agreed  to  take.  Twentv- 
five's  the  tigure." 

You  may  as  well  have  the  thirtv."  said  Maguire :  but 
he  counted  out  twenty-five  dollars  and  handed  it  to  Ben, 
for  the  latter  shook  his  head  when  the  larger  amount 
was  mentioned. 

All  three  were  now  on  their  feet,  and  Maguire  held  out 
his  hand  in  a  friendly  manner,  a  manner  met  with  the 
utmost  cordiality  by  Ben,  and  with  cool  composure  by 
Jim. 

"  Well,  fellows,  I  suppose  I'll  see  you  to-night  at  the 
farm. ' 

"I  don't  think  so.  We'll  go  back  there  right  away, 
pay  our  bill  and  light  out.  We've  had  about  enough  of 
this  part  of  the  country." 

"  Where  arc  you  bound  for  ?  " 


t  ? '   ■»- 


^4:^:«S3m. 


"I  and  my  partner"  107 

J'ru""  ""*  ^"'i  T""  y^'  =  depends  on  Jim.    I  want  to  Ret 
..  w'^tr'^u''"''  ^''^"  '^°'''"  ^'''^^'^'  -'^^"th  in  Illinois" 
V\  ell   then,  so  long.    If  we  don't  meet  again  in  this 

world  perhaps  we'll  see  each  other  in  Buffalo" 
With  this  !)rilliant  witticism,  Maguire  sprang  into  the 

waggon  and  as  he  departed  waved  his  hand  affably  toward 

tlc.r  late  compan.on  drove  out  into  the  sunshine,  followed 
by  a  pdlar  o  dust  that  rose  straight  up  behind  him  in  the 
snll  a.r  throbb.ng  w.th  heat.    Jim  was  the  first  to  break 

nL^'no'no- :  '''  ^"^^^"'""^  ''''^''''  "^^"^^^  ^  ^>-  --^. 

You  rather  fr.ghten  me.  Jim,  with  your  harshness  to4rd 
anyone  you  take  a  dislike  to.    I  wonder  if  you'll  ever  turn 

wlth"'n  f\xf'^'-  ^^\  ^'^""'^'  '^^'  ^^'^"t  to  curry  favour 
with  us?  We  can  neither  help  him  nor  hurt  him.  an  1  he 
kept  to  his  word  with  us,  quite  willing  to  do  bet  cr  ban 
he  bargained  if  we  had  let  him  " 

"  Why  ?  Oh,  I  don't  know.  Just  the  vanitv  of  the  man 
He  hkes  o  play  on  his  fellows  as  some  people  like  to^fav 
on  a  fiddle  and  the  villain  has  a  talent  that  way.    Don'^ 

Z  hn^     'V  h^PP^"fd'     The  other  side  has  bough 
him,  body  and  soul,  at  the  last  minute;  he's  going  to  give 

wa'nrtrdnTh^  '"-'^T-  ^'T''^'  ''"''  ^'^"^  ^^"^^  -"d  so 
wan  s  to  do  the  grandstand  act  of  the  honest  man." 

"  Sn  IV u  7  i^^"VS''^.'  ^^^'^'y  ^'  h^  said  it  was." 
So  should  I.  but  I  don't  all  the  same.    Watch  his 

could'^  ^°°'''''  ""^  ^'  '"■^'^'''  '"  '^^  ^^"^^  ^'  ^"y  "^an 

"Oh.  I  dare  say.    Anybody  could  do  that,  Ben,  because 

hey  can  see  straight  through  you.  but  he  can't  look  me 

the  eye.    I  suspect  there's  so  much  latent  scoundreli^r^ 

m  me  that  he  fears  like  will  detect  like.    If  Maguire  knew 

when  he  was  .jll  off  he'd  settle  down  here  in^M  ch^aT 

He  11  be  hanged  ultimately  anywhere  else." 


iM^5 


Ji 


It  I 


:  te 


Ki.A^SLf~'*.~ttjjK  •<!mt/r' 


lAVb^TVfimr^t*.  -  .>uii«'<«»~S»i&Si9VbM'>'K-< 


ii 


t !  - 


Ml  \ 


i 

IM 


1 08 


The  Victors 


"Just  one  point,  Jim.  You  know  you  said  he  never 
would  pay  the  twenty-five  dollars  for' our  bclonjjinjjs— 
that  he  never  had  the  remotest  intention  of  doinf,'  so." 
"  Neither  would  he  if  he  hadn't  made  this  illicit  haul." 
"  Let  us  keej)  to  the  question  without  anv  '  ifs.'  You 
were  wronp  al)out  that,  as  has  been  proven  'hy  his  action 
just  now,  for  he  paid  up  without  any  hint  from  us. 
anxious  even  to  do  better  than  he  barj^ained.  Now  I  re- 
spectfully submit,  as  we  used  to  say  in  our  debating  so- 
ciety, that  one  suspicion  shown  to  be  utterly  groundless 
is  not  a  good  foundation  on  which  to  build  up  a  new  sus- 
picion." 

"  Right  you  are,  Ben.  Your  logic  has  not  deteriorated 
through  a  course  of  peddling.  I  shall  pursue  the  subject 
no  further,  but  I  still  claim  a  woman's  privilege  of  remain- 
ing of  the  same  opinion.  To  tell  the  truth,  I  am  not  in 
the  least  interested  in  Maguire's  career  so  long  as  Provi- 
dence keeps  me  out  of  the  inllunce  of  it,  but  1  am  exceed- 
ingly anxious  about  the  careers  of  those  two  good  young 
men,  Benjamin  McAllister  and  James  B.  Monro.  We  . 
have  put  your  great  scheme  of  peddling  to  a  practical  test. 
I  reserve  judgment  on  the  result  and  ask  you  to  pro- 
nounce.    What  is  the  verdict,  your  honour?  " 

"  The  verdict  must  be  failure." 

"  The  associate  judge  entirely  concurs  with  his  col- 
league." 

"  Mind.  I  don't  say  our  failure  invalidates  the  scheme. 
I  hold  as  I  always  did  that  if  we  could  organise  the  whole 
peddling  trade  of  the  country  on  one  grand  co-operative 
basis,  buying  directly  and  in  large  quantities  from  the 
manufacturers  and  consequently  at  rock  bottom  jirices 
and  dealing  directly  with  the  consumer,  we  would  then 
inaugurate  an  immense  mutually  beneficial — " 

"  Chuck  it.  Ben,  chuck  it.  Don't  flog  a  dead  horse,  in 
this  hot  weather,  too.    Sit  down,  P.en.  and  cool  off." 

The  other  had  risen  to  his  feet  and  pushed  off  iiis  hat, 
running  his  fingers  through  his  hair  until  it  stood  out 
from  his  head  like  the  brush  of  an  unkempt  broom.  His 
face  was  aglow  with  enthusiasm,  and  he  waved  his  arms 
about,  giving  gestures  emphatic  to  his  energetic  utter- 


«.-^x.i'.ari      juvwf- 


"  I  and  my  partner " 


109 

anccs     Tlio  calm  voice  of  his  friend  pulled  him  suddenly 
down  from  the  clouds,  and  he  stood  there,  motion  stricken 

Jn7";   r     M  ''•  ""l'^  K'''\  ^•'■^''l^^'^'  a  ^^^t"*^  oi  arrested 
mtensity.    Monro  lauf,died. 

"When  a  project's  abandoned,  drop  it.  Don't  waste 
fur  iicr  v.^^our  on  it.  Apply  instead  high  pressure  to  the 
barber  s   exclamation,   '  \ext !  '" 

McAllister  opened  his  mouth  to  reply,  closed  it  again 
and  paced  up  and  doxvn  the  parched 'sward,   touseling 
h  s  hair  as  he  went  along,  his  head  bent  in  thought 
M(,nro  rcchned  lazily  watching  him.  ^ 

cnn  ^."".J'"^*^  ^1  f.'""V^v  a  bucket  of  cold  water  oyer  a  per- 
son, don  t  you  ?       JV-n  said  at  last.  ' 

Say  RrlST'^'?'-'  "■""'''  '^''  ''^^*  ^"''  '"^  i"st  "ow. 
m^ng.''  "P  ""  '■'^^''  "^  ^  '^'■"^•^  ^^^J  SO  '"  svvim- 

The  other  paid  no  heed  to  the  suggestion. 

Sn  rnurU  ^  ^°  ^^  ^'^'1'''  '"^'^'^  >'°"'  ''"^  ^'"^  ''^ther  afraid. 
So  much  depends  on  it.  I'd  rather  belieye  in  people 
than  not,  and  .f  it  is  shown  that  this  belief  is  misplaced  i^ 

ouT    n^n'h-     ^  '''T  '"  ^''''''''  ^'^^  ^'■^^hness  of  m? 

tn;;!t  in  ?ro";id:nS:''"^ "'  ^""^ '"  "^" ''  ^^^" ''  --' 

''Yes?    And  do  you  think  I  would  prevent  you?" 
.\o      1    don  t  suppose    you    vyould,    but  I    think  we 
ought  to  start  square." 

Tf"n))?"l  f'"^/.''^^P'-''i»--ti^"il  thing  is  to  define  our  objects. 
If  our  object  IS  tho  same,  then  we  may  jog  along  to- 
gether toward  that  object.  Mine's  material  success  I 
want    to   accumulate    (,ne  hun.Ired    thousand  dollars'  or 

l7ow  r"  1°' Y^'  ""V  T^'^''^'  '/  f^--^''^!*^'  -^  the  othe 
itiinw  said.     .Now.  what  s  vour  object^" 

"Mine!  Mine's  a  million,  with  the  power  that  ac- 
companies It."  ^  ^ 

"All  right.  There  you  are.  That's  along  the  sam- 
road  as  I  propose  to  jog,  only  a  little  further  on.  Now; 
what  s  your  route?  ' 

]'  The  f^rst  thing  we  need  is  another  partner  " 
1  don  t  agree  with  you  there.    Two's  a  limited  com- 


I      :  ! 


I; 


V   1 


'f! 


■ 


i 

'■  i 


no 


The  X'ictors 


I    1    I 


ii  I ) 


I  : 


pany ;  three's  none.  1-urthermore.  if  your  mind's  hover- 
ing about  latrick  Maguirc.  I  give  you  notice  right  at 
once  that  1  m  out.  • 

'*  I  wasn't  thinking  of  him." 

"  Who.  then  ?  " 

"  God." 

"  What !  " 

"  I  propose  to  take  God  into  partnershii)  with  us  " 
I  suppose  you  mean  that  i  should  join  rome  denomi- 
"^."^'J'    ,^  profession  of  religion.  I  think  thev  call  it  " 
My  dear  Jimmy,  you  don't  understand  me  a  little  bit 

(1  that  s  not  to  be  wondered  at,  because  I  haven't  ex- 
.  ned  It  fully  to  you.  What  I  am  making  to  you  is  a 
c-  liusiness  proposition ;  no  religion  in  it  all.  at  least 
none  from  your  e"d  of  the  partnership.  But  I  couldn't 
take  in  another  partner  without  your  consent,  for.  don't 
you  see,  when  it  came  to  a  vote  God  and  I  would  form 
he  majority  of  the  board  of  directors,  and  vou  might  not 
hke  to  have  things  carried  over  ;  .ur  head  in  that  way. 
So  I  thought  I  would  speak  fra  Kly  with  you  at  the 

AH  the  indolence  k-ft  Monro's  attitude.    He  sat  up  and 
regarded  his  friend  with  an  expression  of  anxiety  not 
unmixed  with  alarm.    With,  ar.yone  else  than  McAllister 
this  kind  of  talk  might  have  been  taken  as  blasphemous 
jesting,  not  in  very  good  taste  in  any  circumstances.    But 
Monro  had  long  known  him  as  a  youth  of  most  serious  in- 
tentions wl>ere  things  sacred  were  concerned,  a  devout 
be  levcr,  and  a  leader  among  the  piously  inclined  in  hi." 
college;  so  the  only  inference  was  that' much  brooding 
on  the  subject  had  affected  his  mind.    McAllister  receiv- 
ing no  ansxver.  stopped  in  his  promenade  and.  seeing  the 
look  of  dismay  in  his  friend's  face,  laughed  in  a  manner 
so  hearty  that  Monro,  after  a  moment  or  two,  joined  him 
all  his  doubt  as  to  the  sanity  of  the  former  being  dissi- 
pated by  their  mutual  mirth. 

;;  I  thought  at  first  you  were  in  earnest,"  said  Monro. 
Uii,I  am  serious  enough,  but  a  glance  at  your  face 
just  now  would  make  anybody  laugh." 

"  Then  kindly  explain  how  you  intend  to  arrive  at  the 


**  I  and  my  partner  "  m 

will  of  the  Lord.  In  any  case  wIktc  your  opinion  differs 
from  mine.  I  take  it  that  you  mean  our  business  relations 
to  be  rcK'ulated  in  a  measure  by  the  (iood  Hook,  and  to 
that  I  have  no  objection,  so  iuuf,'  as  it  is  done  on  practical 
hncs. 

"  My  dear  boy,  of  course  it  will  be  done  alonjr  prac- 
tical hnes,  so  practical  that  we  cannot  possibly  fail   and 
to  convmce  you  of  that  1  will  explain  the  modus  oper- 
.\r  ^^  '"^  ^^^  y^"  'f  yo"  believe  in  the  Bible?" 
"  Yes,  I  suppose  so :  in  a  general  way,  as  the  averaee 
man  believes  it." 

I'  Do  you  believe  it  on  Sund?y  or  on  Wednesday  ?  " 
"  If  I  believe  it  at  all  I  believe  it  every  dav  in  the  week." 
"  That's  right.    That's  the  wav  to  believe  it.    A  great 
many   people   believ,"   it   onlv   on    Sunday,   just   as   the 
churches  are  open  on  that  day  and  on  no  other.    Now   1 
believe  it  every  day  and  every  hour  in  every  day  and 
every  minute  in  every  hour.     If  I  ever  possess  an  office 
1  m  going  to  have  a  Bible  bound  the  same  as  ledger  and 
daybook,  right  on  the  desk  with  them,  and  that  will  be 
our  workable  written  constitution.    In  this  Bible  is  a  legal 
contract  offered  to  me  by  the  Lord,  and  I  have  accepted 
it.     I  am  the  party  of  the  second  part.     It  is  plain,  direct 
and  to  the  point,  without  any  of  the  unnecessary  or  ob- 
scuring verbiage  which  a  modern  lawver  would  put  in  to 
bind  both  parties,  anil  the  agreement  is,  '  Seek  ye  first  the 
kingdom  of  heaven,  and  all  these  things  shall  be  addel 
unto  you.'    All  what  things  ?    Anything  you  may  legit- 
imately desire;  your  hundred  thousand,  or  my  million 
Now   I  have  sought  the  kingdom  of  heaven  and  so  have 
fulfilled  that  proviso.     I  have  written  out  this  contract 
and  beneath  I  have  put  the  words, '  Accepted  bv  Benjamin 
McAllister.  x         .         j 

"  Um.  yes.  Ben,  that's  all  very  well ;  but  I  think  you 
are  interpreting  the  Scriptures  just  a  trifle  literally.  Of 
course  you  are  much  better  versed  in  them  than  I  am,  but 
still  my  impression  is  that  these  texts  refer  rather  to 
spiritual  matters  than  to  material  things.  As' the  lawyers 
say.  you  must  take  into  consideration  the  context,  and 
1  believe  I  am  right  when  I  hold  that  the  general  tenor  of 


^ 


>  JL  xs..  "5  "-*  m^mx^u^^^; 


j^.»:  iMv 


in 


The  V^ictors 


but  not  nva-s.sar.ly  your  tnilliun  lica-  on  earth."     ^ 
th,»'     •'"'•/'r''  ^'"''■''''  J"'''  ^'''^•'■^*  vou'rc  awav  off   and 

snn       r  n,    '     '';-"  "^  '/l^'  '-'••■•'  '^  ""^^  ''■''^••■^'  is  nnthin-^ 

hum^n  adt^al      'Fle'Torfu'"^    ''"*'   "^  ^'''"^'   '^ 
J     .,         ,      "-*''*'•      '  "e   Lord   knows   virv   \Vf  I   tint   T 

r  mean  no  disrespect,  hut  I  hold  that  tlic  world  his 

the  att-tudr  v!!'  '1  ;'  ^°  "'  ''^^^'  ^^^'•<^-"^'  to  differ  on 
the  att.tude.    .\ow,  let  us  come  to  the  practical  working 


i^''.  '^qiS£ft4..  %s!m^^sws''^^^i^i^mi:''^m^^''k 


I  and 


'">'  partner 


of 


your  partnership.     Do  y 


on  inttnd  to 


I  •  I   ■  --"     .>"U      ■■IK.'IKI 


"3 

put   forth  the 


;.-  prc's™,  |,annc.rsl,i„  „.•  will  each  ,lo   I  c  iS  '    '  J, 
'■^.";  7:",""-  ■■'."  "I,-'""- «v  c-;„„„„  slmuo",,    "■      "'■ 

o..ns,u;:-.4™i,:'-;;.ii  *';,;:-::- ^avo, ,a.u,„ 

^^^  .\lm.r„  la„glK.I.    ••  I  ,f,r,,  wi,l,„,,.  ,„„„,„  „„  „,„,.. 
lau'-iuTr  „r"rnmrl,.    ^:",""'"'"l      McAllis.er,      unhoclinR 

!a;.:;;'a':.rzr>:^.j'ij,-i;:;„'^^r'{;'r"" 

■Hcns  ,„  wan.  i,.  X.,w  l"'  ,,-f  i^^vo  ra!'  <!'  ""'""'■>' 
);"iii}r  lu  l,uv  our  (hi„..s  ,  r  if  ,  ,  i  ?  •  MaCTirc  is 
Rot  ll,e  moncv  to  pal"/,;  ,  em   t      "" ',?" M>»^'=  '"■'^ 

..  T    V     .  \"''-'  -^'^ ''  ^*>  lis  this  morninn-'" 
pIeaiar;l:^^^''""^""^''^-'^"^'^--»'-ythi„,   very 
"Hc^said.  •  What  are  you  fellows  fooling  "round  the 


114 


The  Vict 


ors 


I  a 


i 


coun  ry  m  this  way  for.  like  a  couple  of  loafers  when 
here  s  grood  work  u  aitinj,  to  he  done  ?  Here  you  a^e  two 
able-bodied  youn-  men,  a-peddling ! '  That's  what  hr 
saul.  He  thought  he  was  speaking.1.ut  I  Ine w  it  was  the 
vo.ce  of  the  Lord  I  knew  the  moment  he  spoke  tTa  we 
were  gomg  to  sell  our  rig  before  noon  and  get  the  cash 

W  •  M, ^■''"  ^r'-  ^  ''""'^'  ^  °"^^^^  ^°  have  taken  the  ext  n 
five^  dollars  Magu.rc  oflfered.     I  believe  we'll  need  tha] 

!!  J  foW  y.  -4  at  the  time  you  should  have  taken  it." 

rU^      1       ;  '''^'  ^™""  ^'''''■^'-     "^o"  s^e  what  comes  of 
dependmg  too  much  on  one's  self." 

'■  Oh,  the  firm  will  easily  make  an  extra  five  when  it 
gets  a-going.    \\  hat  s  the  next  item  on  the  programme '  " 
I  told  ,t  to  Maguire.     W^e're  going  to  Chkago.  and 
hen  down  to  Stormboro.    That  was  impressed  on  m;  thi 
mornmg  when   I   woke   up." 

"  What's  the  object?" 

tim^""^""'^  ''"°'''  -"""^  ^'^*-     "^''^^  '^'"  ^"  ^^"^^  '"  ^00^ 

each^lTilll''''^  ^^°''''  '!''^  °"^  °^  ^^'^  *^a^h'  ^'Slit  dollars 
be  much  left"  '  '""  '''  ^'  ^^'"^  ^''"  °"''  ^^^''^  ^^'''^  ^«^'* 

r>nJr  '^T  •^'"''  .-'"H  ^^'■^''^  °"'"  "^"^'  way  of  travelling. 
Don  t  you  know  they  re  shipping  west  all  the  grain  cars 

boar?'''!!  '\?^''^''y}^  'f^<^  this  wheat  crop  to  the  sea- 
board There  1  be  tram  after  train  of  empty  grain  cars 
^oing  hrough  C  Incago,  and  you  can't  ask  for  a  more  com 

commodious,  and  you  can  get  a  good  sleep.  When  they're 
full  of  H-^lieat  ,t  seems  comfortable  at  first,  but  the  cold 
gram  chuls  you  to  the  bone  in  a  long  ride.  Besides  the 
doors  are  apt  to  be  locked  when  the  cars  are  full,  but  we'll 
have  no  trouble  finding  a  place  in  a  train  of  west-bound 
empties. 

Jim  threw  himself  on  the  sward  at  full  length,  laughing 
boisterously  and  long,  rolling  from  side  to  side  and  kick- 
ing up  his  heels  like  an  urchin  let  loose  from  school,  which 
in  truth  he  was.  Ben  looked  down  upon  him,  with  wonder 
at  th.s  sudden  attack  of  hilarity. 


WK^^  ^y^mK^x  KKL^^'i^^;ii:~^i«^ 


1  and  my  partner" 


115 

underneath,  or  betwern  tlUln'  ^    "  ^^'^'  ''"^■'  • 

tJoot    but  It  does  seem  a  little  incon  -tuom^  ,    -  ^^' 

Central^RaJlrS    HLn\  11?    '  T'^'  T-  ''^^  ^^^•^'''^^" 

we  haven't  the  monev  to  sl^r^    n^    ^      Ciiica^o.  and 
won't  cost  the  AlidSn  C>mrl?'  '  ''""^  '"  ^'^^  ^^'• 

Jiave  to  expen     aS  r  ,  ^  P^"">'  ^•^^'■^-    ^^  ^^^n't 

adch-tionarwe'^u""  '^""^'  ^'  ^^"^  '^^^^"^^  ^^  our 

.     of  excSses  for       an.nt •«  H      ''/'  '"»"><ious.  witli  pl^tv 

is  unpardonable.'  T  e  e  s  "o  '  V  '"'%"''"'^  "'"^'^ 
His  proposed  brihmJ^f  .^  -^lafi^uire.  for  instance. 
Now    it  U  r.^     K  ^  .""f  ''°^'''''  ''''^  'heinous  in  vour  eves 

two  acts  myse"f  "  "''  ''"'"'"  "«=  "'°'-^"'y  of  ,I,e 

.he;ra?i'S/r;;^,„":;;^5j;ec'ors  .  a  cri.e  apinst 
of  Henry  B   Ledvard   fh.  J       ,  J^  ^  '"'^'"^  ^  ^'"•end 

n°'fo^:;ra:";To;'^„:^;::i'^:,^^-;i\v:i>r-"'"= 
^i^L^?  <i£  ?¥  ™"-" -"<^ 

our  ride  to  thyroid  ..  .0  '/  "  ''"^  *^^^  ^"^«""t  "^ 

uc  lu  me  roan  as  soon  as  I  n-et  tiip  mnnp,-      ?• 

kept  an  account  of  all  the  trin.  Tvi  l.i  -;    -^ ''^ 


i 


«Sik^#J^:!« 


lii 


!l 


M    ', 


ii6 


The  Victors 


Jim  continued  laughinsf,  much  to  Ben's  discomfiture. 
A  serious  man  never  likes  being  made  the  butt  of  a  friv- 
olous friend. 

"I'd  just  like  to  sec  ynu  tell  the  ordiiary  hardened  rail 
way  employee,  whose  delight  is  firing  tramps  off  trains, 
that  you  are  travelling  on  a  pass  given  bv  Providence.  1 
doubt  if  he  would  honour  it.  and  I  think  I  should  ratlier 
have  Ledyard's  signature  on  mine.  Wl.at  will  vou  sav  if 
we  are  discovered  and  thrown  out,  as  we  will'  be  if' we 
are  caught  ?  " 

"  Say  ?  There  will  be  nothing  to  sav  but  that  the  Lord 
mtends  us  to  get  off  at  that  place.  That's  simple  enough  " 
Well,  Uen,  I  m  with  you,  of  course,  but  I  must  admit 
tliat  if  1  m  to  have  a  stop-over  hint  from  above  I  wish  it 
would  take  some  other  form  than  mv  being  flung  over  the 
head  of  some  stalwart  brakemen  onto  a  pile  of  railroad 
ties.     I  ve  been  th^re  before." 

"All  right.  If  you're  through  with  your  scoffing 
remarks  and  will  get  on  vour  feet,  we'll  mosev  off  to  th'c 
farm,  settle  our  bill  and  say  good-bve,  then  'on  to  Ann 
Arbor  before  niglitfall." 

"  Just  one  more  point  on  the  general  question  before  we 

end  this  interesting  discussion.    Are  vou  certain  the  Lore. 

intends  us  to  go  to  Chicago,  and  then  down  into  Illinois  ?  ' 

\  es,  I  am.    Of  course  we  may  be  deflected  before  we 

get  there." 

'■  I  think  we  won't." 

"  No  ?     Why  ?  " 

"  Why  ?  Simply  because  there's  a  nice  and  attract- 
ive young  lady  whom  it  is  unnecessary  to  name,  in  the 
town  of  Stormboro." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Be  honest,  Ben.  Yoa  see  how  this  projected  raid  on 
the  Michigan  Central  has  shaken  my  faith  in  your  probity, 
and  now  you  conlirm  this  by  pretending  vou  don  t  know 
what  1  mean." 

"  I  supi)ose  you  are  referring  to  Miss  Constance 
Fraser." 

"  1  suppose  I  am.  I  heard  a  preacher  sav  once  that,  in 
the  matter  of  investments,   religious   people  were   very 


iF^  it^.i-  .<JII  iMM^. 


I  M-mt^tir^sm--^ 


"I  and  my  partner"  117 

apt  to  see  the  finger  of  the  Lord  point  ng  towards  ten  per 
cuit.  I  have  known  mniisters  themselves  seek  guidance 
when  a  bigger  salary  was  offered  them,  and  thev  generallv 
ound  duty  clrag  them  toward  the  richer  cong?egadon 
11  we  are  gom,^  to  do  business  on  guidance  lines;  I  vvant  to 
be  very  sure  that  there  are  no  other  influences  at  work 

honest!  "''  '"'''  ""^  ^^'''^  ^  ''''""  ^''''  ^''''^  ^°  ^^  ^^^''^' 
Ben's  l)row  ruffled,  and  he  bent  his  head  for  a  few 
moments.  "  Do  you  know.  Jim."  he  said  at  last  "  that 
very  pomt  occurred  to  me  last  night  ?  I  do  want  to  see 
her :  there  s  no  use  in  denying  it.  Still  I  have  tried  not  to 
let  this  wisli  affect  me  one  wav  or  other  " 
"  All  right,  Ben,  I  believe  you.    Let  us  go." 


i  li 


^%myyrm  xm 


CHAPTER  IX 


1 

l, 

\  ' 

m ' 

'■■i 


I     » 

U  ]    i 


"you  charge  me  most  ln- justly  " 

..  at  last  witn  a  long-drawn  sigh. 
Ah,  well,"  mumuired  the  girl  to  herself   "  it  ,^r.      '^ 

''Didn't  he  have  his  breakfast'" 
^^  He  has  had  it  just  now." 
*'  Where  did  he  come  from  ?  " 
"^e  was  over  at  Slade's." 
Oh,  that  s  just  like  old  Slade's  meanness,  to  let  a  man 
go  away  without  giving  him  a  bite  to  eat." 

"  Va/'S     f'*  '''^'  ?''^'  ''■''^"  ^^  -ot  there,  mother." 
Well,  It  s  over  here,  bui  I  hope  we  never  turn  awav 
a  hungry  man,  at  anv  hour  of  the  day  " 

The  daughter  made  no  reply,  silently  busied  with  her 
vvork  the  mother  watching  with  anxious  intentness.  At 
last  she  spoke  again. 

"  What  were  you  talking  about,  Lottie  ?  " 
Aothing." 

"  I  thought  I  heard  loud  voices." 

;;  He  w,ns  speaking  alx)ut  the  voting  to-morrow." 

1  wonder  why  he  takes  such  an  interest  in  it?" 
The  girl  was  too  truthful  to  say  she  didn't  know   and 
ii8 


"You  charge  mc  most    uiijustly"         hq 

so   continued    her  accustomed    reticence.      The   mother 
eemed  nervously  tid^ety.  disturbed  by  the  melancHy  in 

h/ffl^'  .'  ?u'''  ^>'^-'^'/^''^''i"J.'  to  know  the  cause    b^ 
baffled  by  the  atmosphere  of  diffide.,t  reserve  that  sur 
rotmded  both,  and  afraid  to  ask  a  direct  cjuestion 

Ihe  strong  affection   with   which  each   regarded  the 
other  was  deep,  but  rarelv  vocal.  reparueci  the 

"  Doe.  he  seem  to  be  satisfied  with  the  way  he  is  eet- 
tmg  along:  about  the  votintr^ "  ^  ^" 

"  Yes  ;  I  think  so." 

thourh'ldor^-/"''?"'  Y''"'  f^'^P'^  ^^'"  ^'«  ^^'  ^  living, 
houfj  I  don  t  see  how  he  s  to  make  anything  out  of  this  • 

et  hes  up  early  and  s^oin,^  late  and  talking,  talking  all 
ever  heaul.  It  doesn  t  seem  to  make  anv  difference  to 
somet!  mg  to  say.  Ikit  then  ifs  here  to-dav  and  eone 
much  of  a  busmess.  or  he  wouldn't  drop  it  so  quick  to^o 

th^t  did  he'?  ' '''  '  ""  ""    '^^  "'^"'^  ^^>'  -y^'""^  ^^"t 

"  He  mentioned  it  among  other  things.     I  didn't  take 
much  notice  of  what  he  said  " 

ot  people  that  come  from  wc  don't  know  where  I  don't 
h^S:!':;?^:^^"  ^^-  ^-  ^'-^  I  ^'-t  know  n^^  • : 

witli'he'retctLT.  "^P°""'  ^'^^  ^°^^  ^^'^"-"  ^"^  ^ 
"After  all,  there's  nothing  hke  someone  we  know  who 
has  a  good  farm,  for  when  a  young  man  has  a  farmThe^e's 
some  hmg  to  Inm.  It's  hard  work,  but  there's  Xavs  a 
sure  hving  to  be  made  out  of  it.    I  don't  pav  much  atlen 

imcertam.    .^  larm  s  a  farm,  and  if  the  mortgage  on  it's 
not  too  heavy  there  it  is,  and  vou  can  count  on  it '' 
A     K.  /  J^"\^^^'   °^  possessing  a   farm   were   so  un- 
doubted that  the  girl  found  no  comment  to  offer  upon  a 
self-evident  proposition.    The  mother  appeared  to  ?h"nk 


i  i 


if 


JjJH[^SQB|r.-%jP^< 


120 


Tlie  Victors 


P* 


do 


tha  It  was  necessary  to  make  her  remarks  even  more  c^n- 
eral  than  they  were.  She  was  awed  hv  her  claughS-"s 
silence  and  evident  depression,  for  the  latter  of  whfeh  she 
could  assign  no  cause,  unless  it  i,ad  something  to  do  with 
the  sudden  departure  of  the  visitor. 

"  I  never  cou'd  see  that  them  that  went  away  from 
home  bettered  themselves  much,  even  when  voung  Z 
go  They  say  that  VV  illiain  Slade's  not  doing  so  very 
well  out  ui  Mmnesota.  even  with  lan.l  cheaper  than  it  is 

Irtaritul  away  west  m  Oregon  and  them  places.  1  df 
hope  Sam  won  t  take  it  into  his  head  to  go  west  like  he 
was  talking  about  when  I5i!ly  Sla.le  went,  for  Tm  sure 
there  s  no  reed,  his  father  not  being  as  close-fisted  as  old 
Slade.  who  wouklnt  care  if  his  family  was  scattered  to 
the  four  winds  of  heaven  as  long's  he  wasn't  asked  for  a 
cent  Boys  with  fathers  like  that  can't  worsen  themselves 
much,  and  there  s  aUvays  the  chance  of  doing  better  " 

Lottie  breathed  easier  as  the  gender  of  the  one-sided 
discussion  changed,  and  she  uttered  a  low-voiced  sentence 
of  agreement,  glad  that  the  danger  of  investigating  her 
own  feelings  was  over  She  would  like  to  have  spoken 
freely  to  her  mother,  but  some  inward  feeling  of  semi- 
ashamed  reluctance  held  her  back 

nnrfl"'^/\\'''^"'r''"  ^"^'  ^^^""""^  P"*  in  an  appearance 
and  enjoyed  their  dm.ier.    They  announced  their  depart- 
ure,   and   attempted   to   settle   their   board   bill     but   all 
recompense  was   refused  by   Mrs.    P.vfield.     They  were 
more   than    welcome,    she    said,    but 'the    husband    kept 
suence.    However,  the  consciences  of  the  bovs  were  satis- 
fied, for  Mr.  P.yfield  hmiself,  bidding  them  good-bye  on 
the  stoop,  made  no  objection  to  the  acceptance  of  the  cash 
looking  cautiously  over  his  shoulder  the  while  and  slin- 
ping  ,t   with   rapidity   into   his   trousers   pocket       Thev 
waved  farewell  to  Lottie,  standing  half-concealed  at  the 
frojnt  window,  and  went  oflF  down  the  road  erect  and  with 
swinging,  hopeful  gait,  as  if  the  pack  which  had  left  their 
shoulders  had  lifted  from  them  a  heavier  weight  than  its 
bulk  indicated.     She  thought  she  would  never  see  them 
again    not    realising  the    smallness  of   our  insignificant 
pi3in€t> 


i^.ulki  «^.MnJB-ir 


You   ch; 


ii'.*  iiic  most   unjustly 


lit 

r  r,™' i„"x:  iz  "^■■"r,; -■ —vo,.™  finS,:li 

pro' 'nee      \?'l,      ,  •    "',"',  "  '''""'"''"■•  «"-"«  '"r  his 

■n  tiK  cliarmin.,    IV-terso.i  rotna.iccs  :  thev  were  severe! 

cfi"'   n  r    I  r  ^'7"''^'  ?";^  ^"'  ^^'"'■"^"1  refusal  to 

I)ront    In     a    nolily    dowered    brde.      Rut    to    senarAtc. 

gre^T  binrVn"  ^""'r"  °'  ^^^^^  '^^-'^  ' '^'"^  'o  -n 
na?es   of  .    1    1   •    '"'"^"^''.'"^'    ^^^    sordid    for    the    fair 

LouTe's  „1  r',l/   T"^'^'"^^-     ^^  t'"-^   thought   crossed 
vv^fh   .  lKM,M.inmjj  of    disillusion,   she  heard 

tint    hni.r  ^f'^'    •>"''    ^'    't    J^^^    Clicked    at 

w^Sre  he  'stood  r  ^"^  'l^?  ^''''  ^^^'^  ^^'^^''^•■^-  ^''-o'" 
^J  ert    she   stood  she    saw    xMagiure  come   throueh   the 

headT  r"\"^'-  ''''  "^"^''  ^'^^  °"  the  back  ?  '^ 
iKad  as  usual:  jaunty  confidence  in  his  stride  \o 
depression  there,  to  all  appearance ;  no  searchinrof  Jhe 
Xs^  't^'"'"'^  '"  r-'^^  ^^"^  '-^'  been  taken;   K 

inXrsupIr;;"v:;;;;er""''""  °'  ^'^^  ^^^"^-^  -p-^-^ 

Lottie  sank  on  the  one  chair  that  occupied  her  room 

Atter  all.  ,t  was  not  the  bundle  of  ^otes  thev  had  dis 
puted  about,  but  a  question  of  rij^ht  and  wron7  and  rii 

"e^:rtS'paHour"Tr"T'^'-  "'^^  ^^^^^  ^^  -t-^- 
vnn  Tf  P  J  '"^-i ,  ^''^  footsteps  paused  at  the  door  ad- 
vanced to  the  table  at.d  paused  again.  Then  she  heard 
her  own  name  breathed  softly,  once,  twice  thrice  a 
httle  louder  each  time,  and  her 'hand  went  up  to  her  paN 


m 


k 


;f 


y\ 


IH 


122 


The  Victors 


II    S 


[•     1 


I 

■  ! 

h  J 


[  ;:  I  i 


pitatiii);''  throat.  wIktc  Ikt  breath  cr.nio  and  went  with 
difficulty,  l)itt  slie  did  not  move.  The  silence  of  the  nxim 
seemed  |o  oppress  the  volatile  visitor,  for  he  cried  out  in 
his  hahitually  l)oisterous  tones: 

"  I''veryl)ody  ^-onc  a-liarvestinj,'?  " 

Lottie  heard  the  door  of  the  adjoining  room  open,  and 
then  her  mother's  jjentle  voice  greeted  the  incomer. 

'*  Oh,  is  that  you,  Mr.  Maguirc?  1  don't  know  where 
Lottie  is  jjone.     \'ery  likely  she  is  out  at  the  chickens." 

"  Yes.  It  s  me.  Mrs.  I'.yfidd.  lar«:e  as  life  and  everv  hit 
as  handsome.  I've  kind  of  dropped  round  to  say  good- 
bye, for  I  nui.s.t  be  off  to-morrow.  P.est  of  frieiids  must 
part,  you  know,  and  I've  had  a  high  old  time  in  this  here 
local,  ty." 

"  Lm  sorry  you're  going,  but  I  suppose  an  energetic 
young  man  l;ke  you  wants  to  be  doing  something,  and 
there  isn't  much  money  to  be  made  round  here." 

"  That's  a  fact.  Yes.  I'm  just  about  off  for  New  York. 
I  know  they're  a-howling  for  me  there,  'cause  I'm  so 
long  a-coming." 

"  Is  that  where  your  folks  live?  " 
Oh,  bless  you,  no.  I've  never  been  there  myself  either, 
but  I  guess  they  want  a  man  with  some  get-up-and-git 
about  him  in  that  town.  So  thev  tell  me.  and  I'm  ready  to 
do  what  I  can  for  them.  Now,  Mrs.  Bvfield.  I've  got  a 
nice.  new.  crisp  ten-dollar  bill  here  for  vou.  Xoi  but  that 
I  ve  had  ten  times  the  worth  of  it.  Still,  if  I  get  off  at 
that.  I'm  more  than  satisfied." 

Lottie,  listening,  rose  impulsivelv  from  her  chair,  her 
breath  coming  quick  and  eager,  and  stood  with  her  hand 
hovering  over  the  latch.  P.ut  her  mother's  answer  re- 
assured her.  and  the  outstretched  hand  fell  to  her  side 
again  as  silently  as  it  had  been  raised. 

"  I  couldn't  think  of  taking  anything.  I'm  sure  you're 
very  welcome  to  whatever  you've  had  in  this  house.  ' 
"  Now,  Mrs.  Byfield,  you  mustn't  say  that.  I  owe  the 
money  over  and  over  again,  and  I  tefl  you  I'm  getting 
off  dead  cheap.  I  feel  a  regular  sneak,  paying  so  little. 
Do  take  it,  Mrs.  Bvfield." 


I  couldn't  think  of  it,  and  we  are  treating  you 


no 


:*'«:'^ 


*-l-'v'.. 


3IS^BSL1^>JV. 


"You  chari^c  mr-  most    imjustly  "        123 

clifTcTait  from  the  ,„Iurs.     N'.n.r  tu.,  fricn.ls  urro  Iuto  at 
nonn  to  I„.I  ,,s  ,.no,I-l.yc-.  an.l   I   u,.„Mnt  take  a„      ,  „' 
fru.n  then,  alt!,.,,  v,  „„,  i,,,;,^,,,,  ,,„,  ,  ^^,„„.         -   ^ 
thin.i,'-  from  you.  0.  her." 

••  Why.  yon  si.oul.l  take  all  the  ...ore  fro...  ...e,  hecause 

was  the  reaso.,  of  the.,,  l,ei„.,.  here:  ve..  i.„lee.l.  I  o„4t 
t..  pay  for  the  cnnv.l.  X,.u .  ifs  just  like  this.  I  uant  to 
;;.me  hack  here  a^.n,.  a.wl  see  you  all,  hu,  if  .,,  .  ,  '^ 
take  th.s  ,,>o.,.y  I  can  t  cou.e  hack.  J  w  n.i  \n  (  have  the 
^iKck      It  un.  .Io„  I  take  this  1„11  I  ,uear  IV  tear  it  un 

a.n  ioocl  ••'''■''•'  '^'''  ''''''''  •''"''  ^'^^'"  '^  ^-•"■'  •■'-"-'••"ly 

therf'"  ^'""''' '  '■''""'  ''"''''  ^"  ^'''"  ^'''^■''  '■'"'•  ^'^^-^rcn 
•;  Vou  \vouI<l.,'t  ,lo  anytl.i.i-  so  f.K.lish.  r,„  sure  vou're 
Mtnte  uelc.Hue  to  eo.„e  back  here  auy  tiu.e  vou  wa-Ho  ' 
IMrs  l.ytn.1,1.  y.n.re  I.ke  evervho.lv  else  after  ill 
A..<  I  tho.,,.ht  you  were  .li|-fere„t.  ^•ou•re  ,  [ri:' ht 
I'anl  o„  „,e.  1  uaut  y„u  to  take  this  uiouev  a.,  l^  y 
so.neth,,,,.  tor  yourself  wi.h  it.  The.,,  when -I-,,,  a  a  "^ 
i  II  icel  t,n.o,l  to  th..,k  you've  had  so.nethin-  vou  wanted 
and  perhaps  you  will  re.ueu.her  a  fellow  wa7,derin,.  ah,  ut 

That  s  what  I  d  I.ke.  Vou  see.  Mrs.  I'.vtield,  I  ain't  l4 
JK)  mother  of  iny  own  to  .i^ivc  te.i  dollars  to— I  wis],  I 
Had— and  you  ve  been  as  j-ood  as  a  ...other  to  inc.  That's 
r.^^ht.  every  tune.  Vou  think  U-caus.  I  ,lon',  ,0  rou,.d 
dresse<i  as  fine  as  s.nne  fellows  that  1  ain't  <rot  much 
money,  but  that's  where  yot.'re  away  od.  I  ca  ,  mak' 
mo.uy  where  other  fellows  would  starve.  Look  at  ina.: 
pile.  I  had  all  that  when  I  came  here,  but  I  wasn't  Lro.n-^ 
round  bra.srnr,ncr  about  it."  ^       " 

Lottie.  standiniT  there,  ima.^rined  him  holdinij  n„t  tiie 
rol  of  ,^r.n,y  b.Ils  to  ..er  mother,  whose  ejaculation  of 
astomshmetji  she  heard.  P.ut  her  confidence  that  the 
money  would  not  be  accepte.l  reasserte<l  herself,  and  her 
hand  sank  once  more  to  her  side. 

"  I'm  very   crlad  you're   doinq-  so  well  " 

Mrs.  Byfield,  for  this  is  the  country  to  make  monev  in. 


AJK^ 


I! 
ii 


'a    I 


!    i 


I 

If  =  i    I 


124 


Tlic  Victors 


an<l  T  m  (Ik-  nian  to  make-  it.  Ini  a  ul!  nv  that  i.avs  mv 
way  every  fnu-.  Whaf.s  a  nuu,  if  luV  „.,  l„Must '  Til 
doosn  t  amcnnt  to  shucks.  So  now.  Mrs.  livtkM,  Iknuw 
v'ou  I  obliLn-  mc  by  takincr  tin.  her.  m, ;  foV  it  v-m  didn't 

liKf  that.     It    ud  l)rcak  mv  hick,  snrc." 

'•  Wi'll    if  yo.i  fed  like  that  about  it.  Mr.  Ma-uiro    TU 
take  It.  althou-h  ifs  ah..^r,.,i,^,r  t,,o  much,  and  IM  rather 

,nndn  ;^  %       i     ^  "■  "V.^'^^^'-^vay  man,  I  ain't,  and  v„u\-c 
made  me  /eel  better  n  I've  felt  tor  vrar.  - 

Lottie's  hand  struck  the  latch,  ami  the  door  was  Hun- 
open.  """.-> 

'•Don't  touch  tliat   money,   mother!"  she  cried    with 

cleS'. ''■''"'■     "  ^'  ■'  ''''''""^'''-     ^'''^'"  "^''"^■>'  ^^•"•''<'  ^>- 

nns,?^'F'  ^"^;^'''"  Y^'  ^1'.^'^^"  •'''^•^^^'"•l^'l  woman  could 
Rasp.  Lven  the  selt  sutt.cent  and  collected  Ma^uire 
took  a  startled,  step  backward,  and  the  disputed  bill  flut- 
tered to  the  floor  like  an  autumn  leal.  • 

"  lliat  money  was  o.llected  for  bril.-n-      ;^.tches  who 
arc  ready  to  sell  their  votes  to-morrow,  and  he  is  cheatin- 

Jo'^^et^'i?'' '■' '  '"""'""  "'"  *■''''  ''^  ''^''''  ^''''''"  '"'  '"■•'^■'^ 

"  Oh."  si-hed  Mrs.  Ryfleld,  shrinkin-  still  further  from 

the  m\-.iei-less  banknote  ju  the  door  and  lo.^kin-  as  miiltv 

^M  u'-  n  ''''*''  ^'"™  ^''^^^'^^'<'  '"  compoundim,^  a  felonv.       ' 
VVil   you  let  me  .^ay  a  few  wonls?  "  inquired  Ma-uirc 
in  accents  as  .t^cntie  as  those  of  a  dove. 

"  No.  I  won't."  exclaimed  the  .t,drl.  Nehementlv,  "  vou've 
a  ready  said  more  than  enough.  Pick  up  vour'ten^lollar 
t)ill  and  take  it  away  from  this  house." 

The  youn.q-  man  made  no  motiou  to  recover  his  prop- 
erty hut  stood  there,  an  expression  of  the  most  an-elic 
mildness  on  his  face.  When  he  spoke,  it  was  in  a  tone  of 
chastened  sadness. 

"You  w-ill  surely  hear  me.  Mrs.  Bvf^eld.  I  cannot 
complain,  for  everyone  is  down  on  me.  and  I  .ruess  I 
deserve  it.  ^Tiss  P,vfi.>ld  is  quite  ri.cdu  to  talk  lilce  tliat 
about  me.  for  this  morning  I  deserved  it,  ves.  I  did  every 


i 
i 


"V(ni  clui-c  inc  most    unjustly 


125 


J'  >^H',  rvc-ha<I  no  Sort  of  I.rin  r. 
"•">^'   I   iviT  l.;,(|  a.iyo.H.  ta?k 


word  of  it.  ami  more.     \, 
"P-   <lll<l    this    is    tile   r.iilv 

^o  me  in  as  I  shoul;;,; 'tiL:;T/ ;:;;^,;!;;'^  ^'T''V^'^ 

^-ratc^ful.      1    I, ,1.1    Miss    llvf...   I     i  '   '' ^'>'    '    *''-^' 

a.n    an,!  I    v  '  1 '  ^  '        'j,    '.^  V'""  '""'  "'  ''"''"  ^'-'  ^ 
;"ad,k.r  n  ma.!.!,,      "l'      ,       ^  T'    .l";  "'>,  '"""-V  ^'^^«•■".^' 

nVl.t.  an,l  vo„V,  a  eCm    •     t>     '     '•',*•  ^''■'"  •'^'■■'•''^ 'I^'a.! 

of  it  uas  larans  ,„,;;."';"-"  '"'-'"•  •'^•"'  ^'h'  worst 

n™an,Iashanu.!lo';.  r  Vri.ii  '"';  ''"'''''- 
'■'"■'"''"■  tlK.n  voters  an-,I  I  savrt  ;  • ,  '"'.  ^- '  ^^-^>-^^'''t 
""c-  coI,I  ,l„rnnl  cent  fn.ni  m    \  "  ''""  ^  ^''-'^ 

a  cic.,,r c,,„«l,;.'"'V-i,   '*;;,:;,,;"''•,■;'%,'''','-■'' '  >■"" 

ai"l    he  ,|,,„-t    lik,.    II,  "''    ■^'■■"'''  ••"  >'«'n. 

i'">ask-  jyJt^'f  '""^zvz:  '\:r'^y  ,^^:^'!> 

,rccci,...s'  for  1  l,a,l  ,„  ^"L^UZ^'i''  "V''"=''  '"^ 
hoM  I,,..  s„re  ,0  clear  irin.self  i,"S.Uo;,K. ''■'"■  v"' 

m  a  ilrcam.  and  ilun  Ik-  <>iilorl-,.d  '  ,    \"""^*  '"-■'■  'H'  was 
my  receipts,  and  .herr.hev  arc  '  ""■■  "'"'  «'''■  '"'^ 

-i.h  hnmW,.  n,ien.  placed  ,hc  !l"„'„;c!;,f' ^  '""  ""™  '■^- 


the  tabic,  he  put  thcni  wh 


then  he  drew  back  deferent 


_        s  in  question  on 
ere    he  p^irl  couhl  read  tliem 


fashion  took  up  the 


iallv  an,l 


in 


po?e  of  the  wronwd 


most  creditable 
man. 


i 


UfiBT! 


126 


The  Victors 


^^lii  i 


In  spite  of  Iicr  proliihition.  I.ottio  stood  by  the  door 
while  he  sjxile.  Iimkiiit,'  intnitly  at  liim  WUv  one  h\pno- 
tised.  lie  never  ^l-iinvd  at  lier  until  he  had  finished,  and 
then  he  was  <leh),dited  to  see  ennsiiTnatinn  and  (hsmav  on 
her  fair  countiiianee.  That  she  hehivcd  rvrrv  word  he 
said — and,  indeed,  he  liad  spokiti  the  truth  as  nearlv  as 
was  possible  for  him— was  evident,  and  the  eulininatinj^ 
prf)of  of  the  documents  served  but  to  emphasise  the  hor- 
ror she  felt  ;it  her  iuiiustil'.al)Ie  sl.'ndcr  of  an  imujcent 
fellow-creature.  She  turned,  leamd  hir  arm  across  the 
door  jamb,  buried  her  faci-  in  it.  and  lUDaned,  "  I  am 
sorry,"  that  slmrt  phrase  bein:;  all  lu  r  iinot  on  allowed 
her  to  utter. 

"  Oh,  you  mustn't  mind,"  said  Maijuire,  j^ienially  :  "it's 
all  ri;,dit.  I'm  used  to  it,  you  know,  if  tliere  wa>  a  horse 
stolen  ir  the  nei,L;hbourhood,  they'd  all  say  it  was  Ma- 
puire.  That's  why  I'm  j.roinjjf  Ma^-t;  for  if  I  weiU  West 
they'd  surely  lynch  me  for  the  horse  somebodv  else  made 
off  with.  That's  my  luck:  but  1  never  kick,  for  I  know 
it'll  all  cotne  riirht  some  day,  unless  they  f^a-t  after  me  with 
a  r. ipe  and  choke  otf  explanations." 

"  I  don't  think  Lottie  quite  meant  what  she  said,"  com- 
mented the  mother,  quietly  and  almost  stealthilv  re'reat- 
injjf  toward  the  door  that  led  to  the  dinin,<,r-room,  for  she 
felt  that  inopportuiieness  of  presence  which  the  avera,.:e 
American  parent  ex])eriences  when  two  youn;,'  peojjle 
have  their  private  affairs  to  discuss  or  any  uiH)leasanl 
difTerence  tf)  arran.Lre.  In  niithiuLr  has  the  severance  of 
the  new  world  from  the  old  been  more  marked  th:m  in  the 
abdication  of  father  or  mother  from  all  j)os:tion  of  in- 
terference with  the  adjustment  of  relationship  wiiich  takes 
place  between  youny  people. 

"  Yes,  I  meant  it,  mother,"  murmured  the  !;irl.  "  and 
there  is  no  excuse  for  me!  " 

"  Well,  then,  you  should  certainly  ai)olo.;ise  to  Mr.  Ma- 
guire."  and  with  this  mild  counsel  she  siletith-  sli])ped 
away  from  them. 

"  Indeed,  Lottie,"  said  the  yount::  man  Ir.'iderlv.  now 
that  they  were  alone,  "  there's  no  need,  njt  the  sliijhtest 
at  all,  at  all." 


II 


Vou  cliai^f   Mif  most 


1 
i 


iiijjiistiv 


1-7 


ap.^I.^;.-'""'^-     "--•-"  very  unjust.  an.l  I  .... 

uhi-n'tv- ';;;,^I:;r"„^f';;:;  ir^-  ^v^t^-  >■"•■-  ''•---  -t 

'i><-vc.   alua"   1;     \       ;''''^^:^r;':■:•,•''"'"r''r"'''^' 
l<in<!  of  a  cuss   -iM,!  fl,     M        •  ^       ' '"    "  l""-lH-a<U-(| 

'••"t  tiK.n.   I  alua      o   M  "'  '•^■•"-  >-"  say   F   was,,,, 

here  Lrihi  ;   ^"u-  :'  ^;^'i;'  ^;',  '•>•  ^'-'  ];>  I  scv  that  this 
as  clisho,,e St    '  Tl.      .Ion  ''i     ;''  >""nc-y  spent  at  election^ 

t'-auTa^,an.IM.;;;;:?,,,    ;:•;.;;;    -^'-tcr  than 
somohodv  pulls  int-  m„  .sUu  ,         '^""    ^''>'-  """' 

it      I  thouLdit  nt  fir.7  i      '  '■■"  '  -""f  "'^'  \\av  of 

htri^lnouttosc.t,hi;':,"a'.h;-"'"^^^^^ 

ha;Jn:^^h;ts.'tt"''"'u!rT'^^^''^^   ' 

ata,Ka..nas.y..,.'fo;'--/;^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

wercMit.  this  uouM   l,c  a  tou-h   „h.-.    t  .  ,■        ■         !'''■' 
"Yes    r  do"  '^'>"  t  you  wish  mc  luck?- 

Oh,  ves.  vou  have    TImtc'v;  ♦' . 

left  to-dav.'"'  ""''"■  ''^'^^^  >'^^'".^^  mt-'n  who 

"  Yes.  I  love  em.  of  course,  but  still  I  wasn't  just  think- 


ii 


128 


The  Victors 


w 


i!    ! 


in.ir  of  them  ..hen  I  spoke.     T  was  thinkin-  of  vou.     Sav ! 
1  want  you  to  be  mv  j^nrl.  Lottie."  "        ' 

The  youns:  woman,  her  checks  Hke  a  western  sunset, 
kept  her  eyes  on  the  tablecloth,  nervously  puckering  up 
it.s  W(ls  in  her  fin   ers.  and  slov.ly  shook  her  head. 

Uhy.  I  know  I  ain't  j,roo(!  enou-h.  but  vou'll  make 
me  better,  although  I  don't  suppose  you'll  'ever  make 
me  fit  for  you. 

There  was  still  no  response;  no  upliftia,-  of  the  eves 

Is  It  because  I  haven't  got  the  rocks?    'Thunder t'l'li 

make  more  money  than  ever  vou  heard  of.     Sure      There 

won  t  be  any  trouble  about  that.     Whv,   there's  plentv 

money  waitmg  for  me  to  pick  ui)."   Saving  this.he  stooped 

down    crumpled  in  his  han.l  the  ownerless  ten-dollar  bill 

Uiat  lay  on  the  rag  carpet  and  plavfullv  threw  it  at  her. 

bhe  started  back  as  the  paper  unexpectedlv  struck  her 

downward  bent  tace  and  laughed  uneasily.  ' 

^    ''Why,    I've   money   to    throw    awav,"' he    continued. 

Ive  got  money  to  burn  now;  what  won't  I  have  in  ten 

Aears,  with  Aew  York  just  crammed  with  cash  " 

1  here  was  stdl  no  mitigation  of  the  silent  negative,  and 
Maguire  s  fancy  took  alarm  in  another  direction 

'  Is  there  somebody  else,  then?     You  just  tell  me  his 


cs,  sir!     I'll 


name,  and  I'll  ijo  and' knock  his  head  off.     Y 
do  it  in  two  minutes." 

Lottie  lau.died  now  with  more  of  heartiness  in  her 
tone,  and  spoke  at  last. 

"You  dont  e.xpect,  if  there  was  another,  that  vour 
knockmg  his  head  ofif  would  recommend  vou  to  me'^" 

"I'll  bet  it  wouldn't  recommend  him.  after  I  ^ot 
through  with  him.  Xo,  sir!  You'd  think  he  had  been 
into  a  threshing-machine,  and  that's  just  where  he  would 
nave  been. 

"Oh,  I'm  not  alarmed;  I'm  not  going  to  waste  anv  sym- 
pathy on  him.  -     - 
"  You  won't?  " 

"  Xo,  because  he  doesn't  exist,  so  vou  see  all  vour  brag- 
ging IS  lost.'' 


"  Ale    brag?     T  never    brag, 
knock  him  out,  whoever  he  is. 


I    merely  say    I   would 
It's  lucky  for  him  he  isn't 


"You  charge    me  most  unjustly"       129 

anybody,  still  In,  j^la.l  there's  no  other  fellow ;  that  ouffht 
to  pve  me  a  chance,  ()u.<,rhtnt  it  ?  "  ^ 

''  I  don't  know  whv  it  oiijrht." 

"Look  here.  Lottie.  I'm  vour  fellow  from  this  d' v  on 
and  you  re  my  ^irl.     Do  vou  believe  it-'  ^^    "' 

No,  I  don't." 

w.rr^^'^•^f"'*•'^^  ^^'"'^  '^'^'  '^l^^'^  't  a  little  awk- 

tern  ;   T   °^°"^'-^.'^l^J-     Still  that  one  side  is  pretty  V 

crmmed,   and   don't  yo„    fort,^et   it.     The  court     if   she 

"  To  make  monev  ?  " 

P^lhZ  '"^'"'^  T"'-''  ""^  ''''"'■^'^'  b"t  to  make  it  for  a  ffirl 
Perhaps  you   don  t  want  to  see  me  come  back  to  ?his 

"  Perhaps  I  don't." 

II  Well,  do  you  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know.  You  mijjht  write  and  tell  us  how  von 
were  ^ettm^  on.  It  would  be  cheaper  ttf  r  i  waTfaT 
^°f.  $,^'\  York  ,s  a  long  distance  away."  ^ 

Ihats  a  jjood  idea.     I  will  write,  although  Pm  not 
niuch  of  a  hand  at  it.     Then  you'll  write  to  me.  won  t 

writ^  ,?°"'*  ^^^  ^"y  h^™  in  promising  that.     Yes,  I'll 

^''Ju^^r'  '"^''>'-   ,^"^'  nevertheless.   I'm  coming  back 
myself,  fare  or  no  fare-to  see  your  mother,  of  course  " 

heJZr''  ''"'"  ^"^  ^''y  ^^^^^  to  meet  you,  and  to 

near  that  you  are  prospering." 

you?''"  '"'""  '^'^  '''^^'     ^"^'>'°"  ^^•^"'t  forget  me,  will 

"  Probablv  I  shall  not.     And  you  will  forget  anvthing 
unjust  that  I  saul  tins  morning  and  this  afternoon'" 

Uh  you  said  nothing  that  I  didn't  deserve,"  cried  the 
truthful  young  man  rising  and  taking  her  hand      Thcv 

wiui  a  sigh.     Good-bye,  Lottie. 
"  Good-bye."  she  replied  simply 
And  so  Mr.  Patrick  Maguire  departed  for  the  East 

!rnSar"bUr  ''''''''''  ''''''''''  '^^^  ^^^'''  ^  ^^^^^^^ 


M 


f  ■ 


i- 1 


-;||=l 


C  H  A  PT  E  R    X 

"rides  the  wild  make   with   the  nOYS" 

When  McAllister  and  Monro  reached  Ann  Arbor  thev 
reconnoitred  the  railway  station,  with  the  nonchalant 
air  of  men  who  cherished  no  base  dcsi-.is  aj-ainst  the 
peace  or  prosperity  of  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad 
Lompanv.  A  long:  freight  train  was  drawn  ui  on  a  sidine 
and  although  it  had  a  locomotive  at  neithe    end        "as 

bloTe'^rf  ^°"'"f-"  l?'"'-^''^'  ^"^-  '^'  conductor's  ca- 
boose most  uncomfortable  of  travelling  vehicles  was  at- 
tain a 'httl"  P'^''^"  "?"^^  ^^^^°'^  The  engine  had 
taken  a  h  tie  excursion  of  its  own  to  the  water  tank  that 

dungeon  keep  of  modern  architecture,  and  there  was  en- 
joying a  drink,  the  stalwart  fireman  in  greasv  overall" 
standing  on  the  heap  of  coal  that  filled  the  tender,  holdin^: 
down   a   rope   that   allowed   the   water  to  pour   fron    a 
vohimmous  spout  into  the  thirsty  receptacle 

Darkness  had  not  yet  fallen,  for  summer  days  are  Ion- 
and  in  the  twilight  there  was  danger  of  being  seen  if  anv' 
attempt  was  made  to  board  the  Standing  trfin     but  ou« 
young  men  were  adepts  at  the  tramp's  method  of  gettZ 
a  free  ru  e,  and  they  sauntered  down  the  track  on  tlu-  on 
posite  side  of  the  freight  train  from  the  station  buildin- 
where,  in  all  probability  the  conductor  was  getting  aiiV 
orders  that  the  telegraph  operator  might  have  to  givf  him 
It  was  not  the  conductor  that  they  feared,  but  some  brake- 
man  who  might  appear  suddenly  from  under  the  train   or 
from  between  the  cars,  examining  a  suspected  couplin.- 
or  mending  a  defective  brake.     At  last  the  searching  e;e 
of  J  m  Monro  caught  sight  of  a  partly  open  door  of  an 
empty  grain  car,  and  casting  a  rapid  glance  up  and  down 
the  tram,  seemg  the  coast  was  clear,  he  pushed  the  slid- 
130 


"Rides  the  wild  marc  with  the  boys"     131 

hand  tn  Pr^  u  r,    T"""".^  ^"^1  cxtendinjr  a  quick 

hand  to  I.en.he  speedily  hauled  his  comrade  un  hlTZ 
h.m    and  then  they  pushed  the  door  com,  Selv  ?ht^t 

it?'^u^:s;::i^r'^^^^^^^>'-'^^'>-p^^ 

verselrttl-T'''"'  '"  '  '^''''  ''''''''■  "^^  ^^^^^"^  to  con- 

t'  recces," It,.;"'  '^'"■''"'"  -'^  ^^^^^^ 

ful  "opSc  sire  """  =•"'  ""'"'^"'^  ™='^''  "  ^-"<1„. 

interfered  uifh  ^  ^if^"?^',^'"".^^  ^^"t  m  no  case  were  they 
inccrarcd  with.  Their  hones  ached,  and  thev  tnerl  n^„. 
positions,  sinking  immediatelv  into  skm    er  S^a  n  tS 

Tthe  IMl""^-     ^T^^""^^  ''''y  --^  clrou-stfy    on  ciou 
in  the  hollow  sounding  cavern  of  the  car  of  quick  foot 

sS:cro  "the'';'-- ;7'T'  r'  ^'-^'^  ^^<^^<^t 

screecti    ot    the    twisted    hrake.     A^ain    there    rhshnM 
through  their  dreams  with  a  whoop  an  "  ro  r  a  fatt  ex 
press,  the  clang  of  hell  or  the  shriek  of  whistle   swe  hW 
jnto  a  chmax  of  fierce  soun.l.  then  sudclenlv  le  s;ning  and 

hnrfJilunilt:?,'  'Tf  ^^^^^^^^^''  ^^ving^nSl^ 
re  Klea  ot  ilhmitahle  and  desperate  speed.     1  hrou<diout 

rn"f  ;  ^  ^"'■""\"'.  ^''^  i-'-ey  \vas  frequently  in- 
terrupted hy  seemin-ly  interminable  period,  of  rest'  and 
quiet,  during  which  tiieir  slumber  became  deeper ;  then  a 


( 


If 

1 1 

! 
f 


^1 1i 


n 


132 


The  Victors 


{ 


series  of  joltsbrou,c:ht  them  nearto  the  surface  of  wakeful- 
ness. 1  hey  were  (hinly  conscious  that  the  train  came  to  a 
large  town,  wu'i  its  accompanying,'  noise  of  numerous 
shuntmg  engmes  and  the  laboured  breathing  of  the  air- 
brake pump  on  stjme  locomotive  standing  at  the  head  of 
a  passenger  train.  The  sound  of  voice  In  peremptorv,  de- 
cisive outdoor  tones  disturbed  without  waking  them  "  The 
questions  asked  were  often  drowsilv  answered  bv  the 
sleepers.  '  ^ 

"  Give  her  a  kick  back,  Jim,"  commanded   someone 
just  outside  the  half-inch  boards  of  the  car,  and  Monro 
sat  up  suddenly,  replying  "  All  right."  before  he  began  to 
wonder  what  a  "  kick-back  "  was.     The  meaning  of  the 
phrase  was  exemplified  by  an  earthquake  jolt  eastward 
that  nearly  laid  him  prostrate  again,  and  luckily  his  own 
ansvyer  to  the  command  had  not  been  heard  by  the  man 
outside.     He  was  mistily  a    arc  that  there  was  a  heated 
discussion  about  three  cars  '.Jit  were  to  be  left  at  Jackson 
and  murmured  that  he  hjd  mislaid  them  or  had  given 
them  to  Maguirc,  he  could  not  at  the  moment  remember 
which.     Then  came  complete  oblivion,  broken  at  last  bv 
an  awakening  that  seemed  to  have  a  satisfying  sensation 
of  finality  about  it.     For  a  moment  the  belief  that  they 
had  been  side-tracked  wa    >o  strong  upon  him  that  it  was 
some  time  before  he  was  aware  of  the  continued  rumble  of 
the  train.     He  knew  it  must  be  near  morning,  although 
there  was  still  no  glimmer  of  davlight  through  the  chink 
at  the  door. 

"  Awake,  P.en  ?  "  he  asked,  softlv,  that  he  migh^  not 
arouse  his  fellow-traveller  should  he  be  really  asleep. 

''\es.     It  must  be  near  morning,  don't  you  think?" 

"  Seems  as  if  it  was  the  dav  after  to-morrow  by  the 
way  my  bones  f-el.  How^  di.i  vou  make  it  durino"  the 
night?     Sleep  any?  *'  " 

"  I  guess  so.  Seemed  to  wake  up  every  time  we 
stopped,  but  perhaps  I  didn't.  I  ache  as  if"  I  had  had 
a  kicking.  I  wonder  where  we  are.  Better  slide  open 
the  door  a  bit  and  see  if  you  can  smell  Lake  Michigan  " 

"  Oh,  we  can't  be  that  far  west."  said  Jim,  pushing  open 
the  door  and  letting  in  the  cool,  fresh  breeze.     "'  It's  light- 


"Rides  the  wild  mare  witli  flie  boys"      133 

io"u^u-v"t/^^'^'^•  ""^  '''  "'''''  '^'"^^'^  ^°*  ^hc  back  of  the 
journc\  to  eiucaj-o  i)i-cttv  well  hrokcii  " 

Monro  closed  the  door.and  shortlv  afterward  the  train 
came  to  a  stanc  still  at  a  way  station.' and  the  l" v     u  1™ 
by  the  tramp  ot  teet  on  a  platform  that  their  car' was  chin 
jrerously  near  to  the  freight  house,  therefore  a  1  conve  sa- 
tion  ceased  between  them  «■  versa 

voice'aS.""'  '  ^°  ""  '''''  ^••^'"  •  "  ^'->-  '--^'  -  angry 
^^J-^i;ccause  you  can-t,"  was  the  brief  and  conclusive  an- 

"  But.  look  here,  station-mas'.,  r.  listen  to  reason      ni 

^:ir''iru  ^'p-  ^'^^  ^''"'''>-  ^°^  ^^"^^  ^'^  - 

local   but  the  local  won  t  -et  me  there  in  time." 
"  u".  '"''''^^''    "t  '  '^an't  help  it." 

its  trucnlen?;  f"!  "'"'  '^  ^°"  ^'^'■"  ^he  voice  had  lost 
Its   tiuculence  and  was  now  trvinj-  persuasion      "  Vn., 

luxur'v  Tr  "^"  ^^'-^  ^^^°°--'  I  --'t  hm  :  and  the 
luxury  of  the  car  won't  hurt  me  " 

nnt'  ^u''''  -7"  """T'  ^'  ''■^"  ""'  ^  ^'"-  that  passengers  arc 
pov-:  ^oTi  ,!';  "''-'  '^^  ^!-^''^'^t  trains,  and  I  haven't  he' 
power  to  give  you  a  permit,  and  if  I  did  give  vou  one  the 

S^savLr"'  '^  ^'^"r  ^"  '"^,>-°"  °^'  -  thcrra^'tt 
good  sa\mg  any  more  about  it. 

"  Who  has  power?  " 

''  The  superintendent  of  the  road." 

"Can  I  reach  him  bv  telegraph^" 

''  Not  at  this  hour."' 

"  ^Vcll- ;  call  it  an  outrage  that  a  man  is  dumped  down 
here  at  this  God-forsaken  hole,  with  no  connectmg  t  a ms 
to  any  civdised  place  on  earth." 

The  anger  was  returning.  The  speaker  seemed  to  be 
unaccustomed  to  contradiction. 

"^Vell.  this  road  ain't  responsible  for  vour  bein<T 
dumped  down  hero.  We  don't  run  the  B,  X  &  O  and 
have  no  connections  with  it." 

station.     Xow,  I  tell  you,  you  won't  lose  a  cent  by  let- 


:  I 


i 


134 


Tlie  Victors 


n 


i  i 


ting  me  get  to  Chicago  in  time.     Here's  my  card.     Why 
hang  it,  I  Know  the  Vamlerbihs." 

"  Oh,  everybody  that  wants  anything  from  me  is  per- 
sonal friends  of  the  Vanderbilts.'    I  don't  know   em  my- 
self, but  I  know  enough  to  obey  their  orders.     No,  sir 
1  don  t  want  your  card." 

At  this  juncture  the  conductor  strolled  up  from  the 
faraway  caboose. 

"  Hello,  Tom ;  how's  No.  9?     On  time?  " 
''About  eight  minutes  late.  Hill." 

"  What's  No.  9?  "  asked  the  stranger.  "  A  passenger 
tram?"  i-         k 

'I  Somewhat.  No.  9's  the  Pacific  express.  This  freight 
tram's  side-tracked  to  give  her  right  of  way." 

"  Well,  can't  yoi.  flag  the  ex])ress  for  me.?  I'll  make  it 
all  right  with  the  superintendent." 

The  station-agent  seemed  to  regard  this  proposition  as 
so  insultingly  absurd  that  it  required  no  answer  The 
lantern  hanging  looped  from  the  conductor's  elbow,  shin- 
ing on  the  agent's  face,  showed  an  expression  of  wearied 
disgust. 

"Come  inside,  Bill,"  said  the  tired  man.  The  con- 
ductor, not  having  been  burdened  with  so  many  impos- 
sible requests,  and  having  the  natural  sympathy  of  a 
travelled  man  for  a  stranger  stranded  on  this  out-of-the- 
way  shore,  which  the  local  man  did  not  feel— it  was  his 
home— threw  in  a  word  of  advice  as  he  followed  his  fel- 
low-official : 

"  You'd  better  go  up  to  the  hotel  and  get  a  little  sleep. 
You  can  t  get  to  Chicago  till  the  local  comes  along  " 

The  hint,  friendly  on  the  part  of  the  giver  and  unap- 
preciated by  the  receiver,  was  not  followed— the  usual 
fate  of  disinterested  counsel.  Tlie  stranger,  left  alone  on 
the  platform,  relieved  his  feelings  bv  swearing  a  little 
then  he  walked  along  the  train  as  if  he  meditated  get- 
ting lino  the  conductor's  car  and  trusting  to  bribery \)r 
the  rest.  Ben,  ever  ready  to  lielp  a  man  in  a  hole'  slid 
open  the  door  of  the  grain  car  and  startled  the  straiu^er 
with  a  hoarse  stage  whisper. 

"  It's  no  use,  sir.     They're  bound  to  throw  you  oflF  if 


"  Rid 


cs 


tlic  wild  mare  with  the  bovs" 


135 

a  .on!',h':rwarhaf  anib  "l"  ^■?'™-B™ •"  he  said  ,„ 
n.ight  bo  ovXar,?!  "^  n  ^'^".'-'-  ,   ''"''  ''^  °'"-  °>™  talk 
tnUhe  ,ra"n  pXouT""'^"  ''"^''  '"""  "«  ^»>-  -">"»ng 
■'  All  right." 

■•I  ld?s  l;s  fr '°  "■'  ''°'^'''  ^^■'^  '"^  ™"duc.or. 

menSVe  aeem"  "^..'t/r'''^^'''"!'.  "-^  "^"^  ™^."  corn- 
full  of  them -"  -■'  '°  '""''    The  woods  are 

ian"j»vtzsin,;rfr^™l;r^l*^j?r.'„f;;- 

door  partly  open  when  thev  were  freo  nf  rt,   ^  ,■        ""^ 
.hsplayed  the  pradually  lightening  land^cap'^  ^'"'™  ^"^ 

r*zr"„isSeT«r5fence^rij':'i„r.;!:;!c^e^w^i:h^ 

kmA    1         ,         "  station-master.     Indeed,  the  Vander 

stuy^^hU^e'l^Strfrcf-'^^'^^-'- 

I  m  afraid  you  don't  make  allowance  for  the  subor- 


:|p 


i-:| 


■:i        I 


136 


Tlic  Victors 


" 


I 


ilij 


dinate  position  of  tliose  in  the  backwoods,"  commented 
Hen,  ever  ready  to  speak  a  j,'oi)d  word  for  tlie  under  doi;. 
"  A  man  at  the  head  of  affairs  may  make  a  concession 
without  a  thcjuffht  tliat  would  cost  an  understrapper  his 
place.  The  bread  and  butter  of  our  friend  in  the  rear, 
not  to  mention  his  chance  of  jjromotioii.  depend  on  his 
doin^-  pretty  strictly  what  he  is  ordered  to  do." 

"That's  so.  YouVe  ri-ht."  There  was  an  inflection 
of  surprise  in  the  strang-er's  voice,  as  if  he  had  not  ex- 
pected a  response  so  sensible,  couched  in  sin.ple  lan<,niaj^e 
that  nevertheless  ^ave  token  of  education.  lie  associ- 
ated bo.x  cars  with  tattered,  ij^norant  tramps,  and  already 
had  be.cfun  to  doubt  the  wisdom  of  his  precipitate  entrance 
into  a  black  perambulatinjTf  cavern  containin.ij  two  un- 
known individuals,  who  mig-ht  become  embarrassing  or 
exacting  acquaintances.  The  increasing  light  dissipated 
not  only  the  darkness,  but  his  apprehensions  as  well. 

"  How  is  it  you  two  are  travelling  in  this  way?  "  asked 
the  stranger.  "  There  is  nothing  of  the  tramp  about 
either  of  you,  or  I  am  no  judge  of  my  fellow-men." 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know.  Appearances  are  deceptive.  I'm 
rather  afraid  we  might  justly  be  catalogued  as  tramps. 
We  have  been  trudging  over  the  countrv  trying  to  ped- 
dle." 

"  We're  a  nation  of  j)edlars ;  we  have  all  something  to 
sell.  I  am,  in  a  v.av,  a  pedlar  mvself.  Are  vou  out 
of  cash?" 

"  No.     Are  you  ?  "     The  stranger  laughed. 

"  I  guess  I've  enough  to  get  breakfast  when  we  reach 
t  lucago." 

"  So  have  we." 

•'  Then  we're  all  in  the  same  box.  Tourintr  capi- 
talists." 

"  In  the  same  box  car  anyhow,"  jiut  in  Jim. 

"  I  don't  know  much  about  this  style  of  travelling,  but 
I  suggest  that  you  close  that  door  and  take  in  your  dan- 
gling legs.  It's  a  g.)od  position  for  viewing  the  scenerv, 
but  as  we  pass  through  some  station  the  rigid  man  on 
duty  may  sec  you,  telegraph  ahead,  and  gel  us  into  trou- 
l;le  at  our  next  stop.  T  r.mfcss  T  dnn't  want  to  figure  in 
the  police  courts  charged  with  bteuling  a  ride.'' 


^mt. 


'•Rides  the  wild  marc  witli  the  bovs"      137 

"  Tiiat  isn't  a  had  idea."  assented  Jim.  pullinj,'  in  his 
lc«-s    and    slidinj-  the    dour    until    it  was    ahnost    shut 
'■Wove  k'ot   further   west  than   1   thuuj-ht.     Were  just 
cumin<^-  on  thuse  sand  hills  near  the  lake." 

"  May  we  nul  have  truuhle  ^(eitin;,-  out  of  this?     What 
happens  when  we  reach  the  depot  at  Lhicaj^-o?  " 

•'  Wc  don't  «:u  near  the  depot.  This  train  will  pull  up 
in  the  yards  some  miles  out.  Xo,  I  don't  think  well  have 
any  tnnible.  J  lave  to  watch  out  a  hit.  that's  all.  Then 
once  clear  of  the  yard,  wc  can  ^et  a  street  car  into  town.'' 
V\ell.  K^cntlemen,  as  the  politicians  sav.  I'm  in  the 
hands  ot  my  friends.  This  is  rather  out  ul  my  line,  so 
1  il  do  just  what  you  tell  me  to  do.  and  if,  in  spite  of  the 
best  intentions,  luck  proves  a.q:ainst  us.  we'll  stand  or  fall 
to.s|:ether.  ( )nce  clear  of  the  vard.  as  vou  sav,  I  hope  you 
wdl  consent  to  hecome  my  ,i,niests,  in  which  case  I  can 
guarantee  you  a  ^ood  breakfast." 

;■  That's  all  ri-ht,"  said  Jim.  "  Speaking  for  mvself,  I'll 
enjoy  It,  for  we  have  had  nothing  to  eat  since  vesterdav 
noon. 

'•Heavens,  you  must  be  hungry.  How  did  that  come 
about  ? 

"  Mainly  through  the  negligence  of  the  Michigan  Cen- 
tral Ml  not  runnmg  dining  cars  on  their  freight  trains 
\\  e  had  no  tune  for  supper  at  Ann  Arbor,  and  have  had 
tune  enough,  hut  no  chance,  since." 

"  You  came  from  Ann  Arbor,  then.     College  men  '  " 

"In  a  kmd  of  a  way,  yes,  hut  not  from  the  University 
of  Michigan.  We  were  graduated  a  few  months  ago, 
after  a  four  years  course  in  Stormhoro,  111.,  took  to  ped- 
dling, failed,  and  are  now  working  our  way  back  there 
to  get  a  fresh  start." 

"  ^Vhat  are  you  going  to  do  ?  " 

",  V^'^'f  ^;^:''^'"S:  to  do  anything  that's  reasonably  honest 
and  decidedly  lucrative." 

"  I'm  a  Yale  man  myself,  hut  have  been  awav  from 
there  long  enough  to  learn  something.  Now  here's  a 
thing  not  taught  at  Yale,  and  possihlv  ignored  in  centres 
of  learning  and  education  further  west.  '  A  man  willing  to 
do  anything  is  not  worth  a  damn.     The  woods  are  full  of 


li'i 


I!   b  I : 
I?  I 


m 


II 


;  1 


138 


Th'. 


Victors 


mt    uusintss    will   allow   mm    to  ^ro.     Of  course   if   h.. 

w  r  :„°;"^;"'':;r  "■"'  "=^ » '""-  ■«  >.  «me  Li^ 

wniri   enir(;>    and  ci>nccrilrali,iii   „f  atlonlii)n    will   r,,?, 
n7cll*;:;^;'"^;;;,   '"  ?rr-^  -"'"'->"»  are  Chang";;. 

■•  Talk  is  cheap!  -  cried  Jim,  irrilaled  by  the  easv  con 
fi<len«'  "f  a  man  „l„,  was  cvi.lcntiv  rlcli  ami  who  ha.l 

p  vcrf;^?;s''i''r  "'■'-'■"re:  "■'-^"  -- '! '"!«' ;..  1 ' 

povcrt>  stricken    listeners.     "  Xom  nallv    the    chnire    of 
any  business  in  the  Inite.l  States  is  open  to  u        IW 

men  u lo  have  succeeded,  probahlv  bv  ^reat  iroo,    luck  i 

I  eime  !;:'"'  '""""•  "'^"  ^''^'"  I^^'^^' asl^a^ln^ iVe  t  a 
eStnt;  """""-^  circumstances   that   we'n.   to  thdr 

;*I  (ion -t  quite  see  the  point  you  are  trying  to  make" 
The  point  IS  this.     You  went  to  Yale      \erv    well 
Tha    means  that  you  had  a  father  or  someon.  e    e  Tho 
put  up  the  money  for  you.     V]\  |,ct  vou  didn't  work  Ta 

'S^^Z^^'T^ZJ^'^ ''-'  "■''  -^  ">  -^  ^- 


ii 


"Rides  tlic  wild  mare  with  the  boys"      139 
"  Very  crcditanle  to  you.     The  dav  l)'<foro  I  loft  Vale 

duions  were  a  trirto  «liffcrent." 

"Slightly.     Still  if  you   !..ok  up  uiv  name  to-clav  in 
nraclstrcet  you  will  find  nie  rated  at  $S.(J.oo^     Tan 

etvaleT'  'l'^  T'  '"t"Y  '''''  '"-^'  ■'"  '«  or  is 
Xr  ft?  •  .  "  '  f^>'  l^'''  ^'y  ^■^>'  "f  h^a'^fi'iff :  I  merely 
offer  t  as  evidence  that  I  kn.,w  what  I'm  talking  of  when 

a"o/att"nH^^^^         ^''•"'°"  '^^  ^"^'^'-'  ^"  ^  --^-" 

thl^u'-H''^'"/''"'  ^'•'^  co"^''t'on.>  are  so  totally  dissimilar 
that  w. thou  meaning  any  disrespect,  they  largely  dis- 
count the  value  of  your  opinion."  '       ^  ^ 

Jim  spoke  with  manifest  warmth,  hut  the  stranger  re- 
njamed  .mperturbable.  His  voice  never  raided  a  seSone 
above  Its  calm,  normal  level.  He  sat  on  hi.  vaH  e  and 
regarded  h.s  excited  interlocutor  with  a  slightly  amused 
an-  of  tolerance  that  seemed  more  than  his  words  to 

him  urkish  fashion,  and  was  abbing  the  blade  of  his 
ope  .  .mfe  into  the  floor  of  the  car.  r4  took  no  part  n 
the  .ontrover.sy.  but  listened  intently  to  every  word  of  it 
h^  Sraze  fastened  on  the  fpce  of  the' stranger  a  face  keen 
and  clear  cut  almost  boyish  in  appearand.  Although  the 
eftec    of  .youth  was  mitigated  by  i  touch  ^f  grey  at    1  e 

TTe^fin-,  ^r  %'^7^''^^'  ''^'■'^  ^'^'^  '^-^^  '^^^-^y  cropped 
The  finely  chiselled  firm  lips  were  softened  by  the  eva- 
nescent suggestion  of  a  smile 

Vo?ij  y«"nff  friend,  you  shouldn't  jump  at  conclusions. 
Yoi^  never  can  be  sure  where  you  will  land.  You  worked 
as  hired  man  and  thus  got  the  monev  that  put  you 
through  a  cheap  college.  The  toil  and  the  ambition  were 
alike  creditable  to  you.  as  I  have  said,  and  right  h're 
make  a  note  of  it  that  there  was  whe;e  you  had  your 
hrst  advantage  over  me.     You  were  graduated.     I  was 


P 


140 


The  Victors 


m 


m 


ILi       i 


not.    'Hiat  is,  i>erhaps.  another  advntitayc.    W  lir    !!     Ijrot 


till- 

lUl- 

:  ml 
iiul 


niy   yaclititijr   ,,;,,-, y   t<i.i,atliiT   in-w  s   caiiu-   t(»   ni     . 
failure  of  my  fatlnr.  and  the  neusof  iiis  failure  "a 
taneniis   with   {hv   news  of  his  death  by   bis       vn 
lie  was  supposed  to  lie  uiie  of  the  richest  i  -   i   m 
York,  hut  tile  stcjrin  of  a  financial  crisis  str      ,    ijti 
his  froinjr  (i,,„.„  ^y.^^  ,],^.  precursor  of  nianv  aiu  J.,  r  v,  n  -k, 
and  the  uiauj^nration  of  one  of  the  worst  nione  iry  p,i    cs 
'••oni  which  America  has  i-ver  sutrere.j.    Xow     tv  tn  .1^1 
preeiate  the  situation.    I  was  the  useless  son  oi  a    i.j  ;'...•• 
millionaire,  accu-^lomed  to  the  lavish  spendui      >\  :,'.  • 
with   no  more  knowledj^e  of  makin-r  it   than      l.-opiLr.' 
had.     I  could  handle  a  yacht,  culd  i>,w  in  a  1  n,-.)    i  os- 
ses.sed  some  experience  in  athletics,  hut  I  had  n      a  .ii;;^!,- 
useful  hit  of  craft  know!tdt,rc  for  which  anv  sane  num 
would  have  paid  me  fifty  cents  a  d:>v      Here  a.yain  vou 
had  the  advanta-r  of  nic.    Rich  fri(  :i<!s?    ricniv  of  them. 
I  thou-ht.     A  week  hcl'ore  and    ir,   card  would  have  i^^ot 
me  entrance  into  the  privaie  n-,ni  ,)f  anv  hanker  in  Xew 
^ork.  now  the  name  of  MM;l,ell  was  a  scofT  and  a  hy- 
word  across  the  hroad  American  continent.     My  father 
was  supposed  to  he  the  head  and  front  of  all  the  trouble- 
his  reputation  was  rent  to  raf,^s  in  everv  pai)or  in  the  coun- 
try.    ()f  all  my  ac(|iaintances   I  periia])s  knew  least  of 
him,  and  he  had  never  had  time  to  seek  an\  knowledge  of 
me:  but  I  am  sure  he  wa-   no  more  to  blame  than  manv 
others   for  the  crisis.     The  business  world   wa^  lione\'- 
combed  with  over-speculr/ion  and  the  crash  had  to  come 
but,  accordini?  to  the  press,  it  was  all  Mitcheirs  fault,  and 
his  suicide  was  taken  as  a  confession. 

"  I  soon  discovered  that  I  hadn't  a  friend,  and  thi'^  is 
partly  accounted  for  by  the  fact  that  most  of  those  I 
knew  were  in  the  same  line  as  mv  father,  or  in  buMiiess 
closely  associated,  and  were  hard  hit,  main  of  them  i^oinir 
under  themselves  and  therefore  in  no  moiid  to  help  a  usc^ 
less  youn.er  man,  even  if  they  were  in  a  i^osition  to  do  so  I 
found  most  doors  closed  to  me,  and  if  bv  any  chance  I 
was  allowed  to  see  the  man  on  whom  I  cafled  f  soon  real- 
ised that  he  looked  on  me  as  a  cumberer  of  the  e.Trth  to 
whom  he  had  made  up  his  mind  to  lend  five  dollars  if  a 


I    f 


"Kiclcs  the-  wild   marc  uiti,  tla-  boys"      141 

strong  cnoiij;!,  appeal  was  ..r^-ol  up  .„  Ins  att.nt;..,,  |;„, 
'  ''■;'  "J't  want  ...  l.nrrow-1  wantc.l  a  jol,.  I  i  ...r  1 
^-ra-Iuallv  .1,-.,  a  |  tlu.c  m.n  lo.-knl  u  „h  o.,,,., „p         . ." 

an     tins  scnuc..!  .llu^Mcal,   ,..r  all  ..,   tlu.n  u.r.  scnli,,.: 
l.nr  ouM  suns  to  one  university  nr  anuthrr,     I  r  j  .,      .1 

hav.^,.ltlua|„.v.rsauan.I!c,:vl.utt!uuMJl    na^^^^ 
hft\    thousaii.l  <lollar>   in   a  .U-al.  tliev   n,iH,i   j.avr  uJ\ 
nnuh  more  hee.l  t<,  ,„,   application  .V.  u-.Tr I.      \1    I     '.I 
f  Jt  u,^^  a  seere.ary.hip.  a  plaa-  ,u  a  bank  or  suel,  like 
^'cnteel   occupation    van.slu.l    from    mv    n.in-l       \Iv    re 
sources  were  almost  at  an  en<l  wlun   |  betliounh,  ,„vself 
jf  a  tiian  m  Connecticut,  at   whose  palatial  residence   I 
a(l  once  spent  u  vacation,  the  ^uest  of  his  son.  who.  hv 
the  way.  was  to  have  luen  one  of  the  members  of  mv 
yachtm^  party.    ( )M  ,i,.„sel  was  a  carria;;e  n,anufac!:,rer 
in  a  lart,^  way  and  was  rich,  althou-h  not  i„  the  same 
category  ..wealth  that  my  father  had  been  sup  ose     to 
occupy      f    ,.ured  out  that.  bein,.  a  manufacturer   he   vis 
not  so  hkelv  to  be  affected  by  the  panic  as  the  financial 
mafi^iatcs  ot  the  metropolis,  and  that   I   would  tbeSc 

o  me  a  bluff,  honest  sort  of  man.  a  little  too  fon.l  of 
boastmjr  bow  well  he  had  made  his  own  wav  in  the  world 
et  cxceedn,.o:ly  .^dad  that  his  son  and  I  were  friends.     I 
liaci  had  many  j.ressmn;  invitations  to  visit  him 

I  roacbed  his  facK.ry  almost  without  a  cent  in  mv 
pocket,  ami  bavin-  sent  in  my  name  to  Mr.  J!o„sel  I  was 
kept  waiting  for  nearly  an  hour  in  the  outer  office,  which 
did  no  strike  me  as  encoura-in-  At  last  I  was  sb.nvn 
11.  and  the  port] V.  successful  carria-e-buildcr.  turniuLr 
sl^..wly  round  in  In.  office-chair,  looked  me  over  from  head 
to  foot  and  from  foot  to  head,  then  said  • 

;;  •  \\  ell   youn.i,-  man.  what  can  I  do  for  v(hi  "^ ' 

\  on  have  lar-e  works  here.  ATr.  I'.onsel.  so  I  thoutrbt 
Ihem.'"  ^■""  '""^^'  '^'^"  '"^'  '  ^'''  "'   "^'"^'  portion  of 
"  "You  are  ri-ht.  thc\  arr  !;,rL'c.    T  own  them  .-nd  I  be- 
jran  in  a  one-roomed  carpenter  shop,  with  no  roik-e  edu- 
cation either.    There  arc  two  buildings,  each  three  hun- 


(It 


^mik&..Tm:j^ 


-.  i.n 


M 


I  if  ■ 


142 


The  Victors 


dred  feet  long  and  three  stories  high.  There  are  ninetv 
thousand  square  feet  of  floor  space,  all  busy  with  caTaWe 
men  and  the  most  effective  kind  of  machinery.     What 

s'fit^d%ro:?u"P'"  °'  '^" '''-'  '^  ^°" ''-'  ^°"^- 

The  old  man  brought  his  fist  down  on  his  desk  and 
fjave  expression  to  tl  e  remark  winch  disturbed  you  a 
short  t.me  ago.  He  said  the  man  willing  to  do  anything 
was  not  worth  his  salt,  and  the  ofTensiv^  way  he  aid"^ 
made  me  angry,  helpless  as  I  was.  • 

von -11  J?""^  here  Mr.  Bonsel ;  a  hundred  years  from  to-day 

IT     .  I      T"  '^^"^  ^'^^  be  making  those  carriages  are 
not  yet  born,  but  they  w.ll  learn.    I'm  ready  to  learn.' 
My  anger  increased  his.  He  got  red  in  the  face.  Few 

woHd  wn/°J.     ''  '^''  '''.r'  ^^'"^  *^  ^•^'  ^"d  that  the 
world  wil   get  on  very  well  without  us,  especially  if  we 

are  important  personages  in  our  localit^,  as  he  was 

^ou    impudent  young   whelp,'   he  cried.     'That's 

college  manners,  I  suppose.' 

^u^  ^?'  ^*'';  ^*  ^^  ^"  ^^^'■-'^^1  fact,  true  before  colleges 
r;e  s'tv^hls^'i;'  fact  which  will  remain  true  after  The 
umversity   has   been    eliminated   from   the   face   of   the 

"'You  can  learn,  can  you?  Very  well.  I'll  give  you 
permission  to  enter  my  works  as  an  apprentice  if  you 
have  any  one  to  support  you  while  you  are  learning  for 
we  give  no  wages  the  first  year  '  ^' 

whairmh'ere'or.''''''  ^  ^^^  '^-^  --&-  That's 
;;  _Then  answer  ny  question.  What  can  you  do" 
The  old  man  brought  his  fist  down  on  the  desk  again 
at  the  word  do,  and  seemed  to  think  he  had  ended  the 
matter.  I  have  since  thought  that  his  bluster  was  largely 
due  tc  the  stirring  of  a  partially  extinct  conscience.  The 
text  Am  I  my  brother's  keeper?'  must  have  been 
vaguely  echoing  somewhere  in  his  brain,  for  I  had  been 
a  guest  m  his  house,  and  after  all   I  was  only  askin-  a 


"  Rides  the  wild  marc  with  the  boys  '     143 

chance  to  cam  my  bread.  I  was  not  using  mv  knowledge 
of  his  residence  to  burglarise. it.  On  mv  pa'rt  I  vanielv 
understood  that  I  was  being  asked  the  universal  question, 
and  my  answer  to  it  was  far  from  complete.  What  could 
1  do .  with  a  strong  emphasis  on  tlic  last  word 

"  As  I  came  in,  or  rather  during  mv  long  term  of  wait- 
ing 1  noticed  a  broom  standing  in  the  corner,  and  since  en- 
tering I  had  seen  that  the  office  was  not  kept  as  spick  and 
span  as  most  Xew  York  offices  I  was  acquainted  with.  I 
turned  without  a  word  and  went  to  the  door.  I  heard  the 
old  man  augh  in  an  uneasy  sort  of  wav,  as  if  glad  to  be 
at  last  rid  of  me.  and  yet  not  comfortable  at  his  success  in 
the  clearance.  I  returned,  however,  a  moment  later,  with 
the  broom  in  my  hand,  and  began  to  sweep,  raising  a 
dust  that  made  the  old  carriage-builder  wheeze  and  cough 
and  choke,  sputtering  and  sneezing,  trving  to  speak  and 
not  succeeding,  while  the  room  was  speedily  in  a  haze  of 
dust.    At  last  he  roared : 

What  the  devil  do  you  mean  by  that,  sir?  Arc  you 
here  to  insult  me  in  my  own  office,  or  have  you  gone 
crazy  ?  j        f> 

Neither,  sir.  I  want  to  show  vou  two  things.  First 
how  badly  kept  your  private  room'  is ;  second,  that  I  can 
sweep.  There  s  one  answer  to  vour  question.  I  can 
sweep  and  do  it  better  than  the  capable  person  who  is 
occupying  this  particular  ten  square  feet  of  space  in  vour 
ninety  thousand.' 

The  old  man  pondered  over  this  for  a  few  moments 
but  I  could  not  flatter  myself  that  there  was  any  melting 
in  his  attitude  toward  me.  However,  he  called  for  a 
clerk  and  held  a  brief  consultation  with  him.  My  heart 
jumped  thinking  I  was  going  to  get  a  desk  in  the  large 
outer  office,  filled  with  young  men  and  a  sprinklincr  of 
older  ones.  When  the  clerk  went  out  Bonsel  turned  to 
me  and  said : 

,. "  '  Then  you  are  willing  to  take  the  job  of  sweeping  out 
the  offices  ?  '  ^ 

Yes,  or  the  whole  building.' 

'' '  I  can  do  better  than  that  for  vou.    We  are  in  need  of 

a  hand  or  two  in  the  paint  shop.'    I  suppose  you  can  at 


I 


;| 

if; 

1  1  • 

1 

I. 

11 

L 

K   .A.^^^^^1 

144 


Tlie  Victors 


i  I  '     'J 


V 


Iff 


.1 


least  (lo  the  prin.inr  .--s  udl  as  anvbodv  else.     It  (Ir.esn'l 
i>ut  that  hrush  has  to  waj-  ri.^ln  alon-  durincr  u-nrkin-^ 

""mi  r,-' li;'  """^  'T^^;  '"f*-"-^  ^'^°"^'^'--  prom    es  •  "^ 
All  ri,t,dit,  sir,  and  thank  vou  ' 

isfactonV' '"''  '''"  '''  '''^  ^^"""'■^  ^  ^^'^^'^■-    I«  that  sat- 
"  '  Quite.' 
"  '  You  will  understand  that  vour  remainin<^  here  or 

do  hi.     .     .    '"  ^"'f'''"  '^'^""^'^'•'^  >'°"   t''^  bouncing' will 
doubtless  be  for  .i,^ood  cause,  and  there  is  no  use  in  coniTn 
whin,n,q-  to  me  for  reinstatement.'  ^ 

"  '  I  shall  not  ask  vou  to  interfere  ' 

"  '  I  have  just  sent  for  the  foreman  of  the  primin-  dc- 

KtTsav\o'r'""^  '''''''■  ^°  ^"^^  >-^"  -''1 1'rs;; , 

;; ;  An  excellent  and  straightforward  plan,  sir  ' 

You  came  to  me  :  I  didn't  send  for  you,  so  perhaps  it 
will  not  be  necessary  to  say  that  at  mv  house  we  do  no 
recogmse  the  panu-shop.     Understand'  what  I  mean  ?  ' 

sold   nn    I  ;■   '''.''"        """^  ''"'■'"  ^^""'^  ^"^^'  '-^  t'^^  "-"l^.  for  I 
come  here  '  '"''   '"  "'^'^''"  '"^  ^''  ''''  "^""^'>-  ^'^^ 

his"hUd"'Fr"'  ^;">- Laffin  came  in.  holdin.o-  his  cap  in 
his  hand,  lie  was  the  toreman  of  the  primin-  department 
he  pamt  shop  an.l  an  unmistakable  IrislTmai.  w  1  a 
uft  of  dim  whiskers  that  was,  perhaps,  intended  to  4e 
In.n  an  Uncle  Sam  air.  but  which,  somehow,  spoke  more 
eloc,ue,)tly  ot  the  Emerahl  Isle  than  anv  other  feaU.re  of 

nmn  ■  "     ■''  '1  ■'''^  '""'  '''"-'  -^"loothly  shaven  upper  lip. 
Ilumble  as  was  h,s  demeanour  in  the  eves  of  the  loss   he 
ca-st  a  c^iance  at  me  which  showed  me'in  an  instant  that 
here  was  a  man  xyho  could  make  it  prettv  nasty  for      e 
and  probably  would.    I  sav,  boys,  I'n^  makmg  too  Ion  "a 

abou"himr:if  •\""'^"  "'''  •^•^""'""■^  ^^'^-"  he'^pins  a  varn 
"  No,  no,"  cried   Ben  eagerly,  speaking  for  the  first 


"  Rides  tlic  wild  mare  with  the  boys  "    145 

time.  "  It's  the  most  interesting  storv  I've  ever  listened 
to.  Yes,  more  mterestin,s,r  than  anvthintj  I  have  ever 
read— just  the  kind  of  talk  I  want  to  hear.  '  Don't  omit  the 
sh.irhtest  detail." 

"  I  second  that."  said  Jim.  "  It  fits  us  like  a  coat  cut  to 
measure,  and  I  take  advanta-e  of  the  lull  to  ap.lo^rjsc  for 
what  1  said  ahout  your  having-  had  a  better  start  than  we 
liave. 

"  Well,  the  monotony  of  the  journcv  mav  excuse  the 
lengUi  of  the  story.     Old    i'.onsel   said   to  his    foreman. 

Lattin.  this  youiij,-  chap  is  just  out  of  collej;e,  and  he 
wants  a  job  in  the  paint  shop.  He's  to  j-et  six  dollars  a 
week— if  he  shows  that  he  is  worth  ten  dollars  to  the 
shop.  I  want  you  to  understand  that  althoufjh  I  put  him 
in  the  place  I  don't  keep  him  there.  Whether  he  stays 
or  not  depends  entirely  on  wluther  or  not  he  is  worth 
more  than  the  money  we  give  him.  Do  you  understand, 
Lafnn  ? 

"'I  do  thot,  sor.' 

"  '  Xo  favouritism  you  know ;  you  can  discharcje  him 
to-morrow  if  he  don't  suit,  and  you'll  never  hear  of  it 
from  me.' 

■■_^' Has  the  yong  mon  anny  axpaarience  in  painting, 


sor  : 

Not  an  atom 


Put  him  at  the  priming.' 

T  u  /  '^^'  ''""''  1^^''<^""'  ^^^-  1 'on-'^el,'  1  interrupted.  *  but 
1  helped  to  paint  my  yacht  once  at  the  IJermudas.  We 
had  a  kind  of  a  strike  among  the  crew  led  bv  a  dissatis- 
fied countryman  of  Mr.  Laftin's  here;  thev  sort  of  took 
advantage  of  the  fact  that  we  were  in  a  foreign  port,  and 
I  sort  of  showed  them  a  specimen  of  American  indejiend- 
cnce.  The  painting  was  well  done,  and  as  niv  yacht  cost 
a  hundred  thousand  dollars  and  as  vour  carria<>-es  are 
hardly  so  expensive.  I  think  I  can  give  satisfaction  to 
Air.  Laffin  and  the  firm.' 

"  I'.illy's  eyes  opened  wide  at  the  mention  of  the  yacht 
and  then  partially  closed  to  two  malignant  slits  as  he 
sized  me  up  with  no  favouring  glance.     His  fist  clenched 
nervously    and   1   said   to   mvself.   *  I'm   going  to   have 
trouble  with  this  man.'     It  was  not  a  diplomatic  begin- 


I' 


t    '■jfmB-'.i' 


146 


The  Victors 


f     *-: 


nms:  with  my  new  master,  hut  I  was  j^cttinff  very  tired  of 
the  good  Mr.  Jionsel's  attitude,    lionscl,  however  did  no 
tTLaffin:  '"'^''''''"'''''''  ^'  ^'^'^  ^^^^^b' ;  he  me;ely  saS 

xZl^^^'u   ^^'"^  '""  "^^''?^  speculator.   Mitchell,  of  New 

Hk-.lv  Uf""  "^7^  '""^'^  ^^^  ""^^^^  ^^>''  3"^  it's  more  than 

hort   ?hnri  "';f  '•'"'  ^^'^  "  '''"^'  ^"  I"'*  ^''^'  f^'^^^'-y  on 

Laffin.'  '   ''^""   ^■""^'""^'«-      'I'^l^^'   him   away. 

tn't!!f  ?r- f  I'  '   •'•'"•r'  ^'^'■""ffh  the  outer  office  and  over 
to  the  pauitshop  „i  sdence.     In  one  comer  of  the  larjre 
t^x»n   m  which  a  numlKT  of  parts  of  bugjjies  were  LtUni 
tlKMr  first  coat  of  priminj,.  there  was  u^nlled  off  a      Ue 
office  for  the  foreman.    Into  this  Laffin  led  me,  and    los- 
mg  the  door  behind  him  turned  to  me 
'•;  See  here,  me  yon.t:  spriK^-•  he  hej^an.  truculently. 
VVa     a  moment,  Laffin.    You  think  you're  going  to 
do  the  talking,  hut  yon  re  mistaken.     Ifs  1.     fust  feel  the 
musch.  in  that  arm.'    I  extended  my  arm.  drawing  up  mv 
clenched  fist   to  my  shoulder.      IJilly   stood   thefe    w^h 
angry  brow  and  dropped  jaw,  but  made  no  motion    o 

J^r'sl"  A  .'"^•'*'''^'^"-     *  1'''^"'-^^  '«  strength,  which  counts 
for  somet  ling;  not  very  much,  but  behind  that  is  science 
which  makes  all  the  difference  in  the  world.    I  could  oiu- 
box  any  man  at   \  ale.     I  luive  been  bef.)re  now  pitted 
against  a  i)rofess.onal.  and  my  backers  didn't  lose  their 
bets.     Aow  SIX  dollars  a  week  is  necessary  to  me  just  at 
present,  but  it's  lu)  great  snap,  and  the  moment  vou  beirin 
any  petty  tyranny  over  me  I'll  draw  back  and  knock  3'ou 
into  the  middle  of  next  week-yes.  if  you  have  one  hun- 
dred of  )our  men  about  you— and  then  Fll  clean  out  the 
shop  If  any  one  of  them  objects.    They  may  slug  me  from 
behind  with  a  hickory  spoke,  but  they  won't  be  able  to  do 
It  with  their  hsts.     Anyhow,  the  rear  spoke  won't  help 
you.^     \ou  11  be  Hat,  never  knowing  what  hit  you  ' 

Ye  cheeky  divil.'  roared  Rilly. '  d've  mane  to  threaten 
rne  in  my  own  affice  ?  D'ye  think  I  care  whether  yer 
father  was  a —  ^ 

"  '  No  I  know  you  don't.  But  that  brings  mc  to  the 
second  thing  I've  got  to  say.  I'm  to  work  for  six  dollars 
a  week,  but  it  won't  be  for  long.     I'm  of  the  breed  of 


"  Rides  the  wild  mare  with  the  boys"      147 

felt  tlu.  rn«f      11;     I-    1  y  ^^  ^  I)rc'sc-nt  an(    never 

an,   vn.ni  1  ^^'-'  ^  '"  ^"'"^  ^"  ^""•<  you  up,  Hilly 

H?^  h    .         ^  ^"^^^  ^'■^-'^^  "''^  ''•^^^  a  white  trian  it  will  be 
the  best  investment  you  ever  made  ' 

All    right."   said    Laffin.    with   great   good   nature 

*•  I  lifted  the  mortgage  from  Laffin's  house  a  few  years 

later   and  gave  htm  a  thousand  dollars  additional      So 

you  see  we  got  along  well  together  ^""'tional.     bo 

Sometimes  on  the  street  I  met  Mr.  Bonsel    but  not 

of  en.    He  never  recognised  me.  and  I  never  saluteShfm 

a  tn  Zr'Ar^^'  '^  l^""  '^y  ^°'  ^"^J  '^*-'f"'-e  long  foumi 
a  ten-dollar  bill  m  my  Saturday  envelope,  for  which  oer 
haps  I  had  to  thank  Laffin  more  than  m;  r^al  en^^byer 
I  had  but  one  more  brief  conversation  with  Mr   Bonsei 
unti    the  time  I  negotiated  with  him  for  the  sale  of  hf 
works   two  years  ago,  when  I  turned  the  busine  s  hito  a 
hmitod  company,  for  his  son  showed  more  apti  ud"  fo? 
pending  money  than  making,  and  Bonsel,  ge tt  ng  c^d 
wished  to  be  relieved  of  business  worrv  and  possefs  lis 

Just  V  hi  'r;  ''•'•  ^'''  ^°"  ^'^^  -'^^^^  ''"'^  he  cou  d  o 
justify  his  fathers  contempt  for  college  men      The  o  d 

man  wandered  about  the  town  after  the  convers  on  of 
h.s  business,  like  a  man  who  had  lost  himselHever  b".n1 
able  to  realise  that  he  had  no  further  voice  in  he  IffaS  of 
the  concern  he  had  built  up.  "  °* 

"He  died  in  a  few  months,  I  verily  believe  of  havinir 
nothtng  to  do,  and  the  son.  although  old  enough  to  Si 


I 


i      :   ' 


m^  tut  «  '^wm 


n  i 


148 


The  Victors 


and  is  now  somcwliere 


?! 


better,  has  made  the  dollars  flv 
abroad. 

"  Well,  as  I  was  sayinpr.  I  found  myself  in  the  old  man's 
office  once  more. 

What  do  you  want?  '  he  asked  me  .trrufllv.  '  I'm  not 
here  to  listen  to  complaints,  and  the  times  don't  justify 
a  raise  in  waj^jes.' 

P.oth  of  these  thinsrs  I  know,'  replied  I.  '  and  the 
fact  that  comjjetition  is  keen  makes  it  incumbent  on  a 
proprietor  to  take  every  advantaj^e  he  can  to  save  moncv, 
3s  well  as  to  make  it.  In  the  repair  shops,  when  paint  is 
taken  from  an  old  wheel,  they  burn  it  off  with  a  blow 
flame,  which  is  not  only  a  slow  method  but  an  unsatis- 
factory one.  The  flame  doesn't  clean  the  wheel  very 
well,  and  the  heat  starts  the  joints.  I  learned  somethinj^ 
of  chemistry  in  colletre.  and  I  have  been  experimenting 
smce.  I  have  a  liquid  into  which  vou  put  an  old  wheel, 
take  it  out.  stand  it  up  to  dry.  then  shake  it.  and  the 
paint  comes  off.  leavin.i,-  the  hicktjrv  wliite  and  clean  as  a 
weather-bleached  bone.' 

I've  heard  that  sort  of  nonsense  before.' 
Yes  ;  but  this  nonsense  works.' 

You've  been  wasting;  my  time  and  material  foolinj? 
about  with  old  wheels,  have  you  ?  And  now  vou  have  the 
impudence  to  come  to  me.  thinkintr  I  will  put  up  jjood 
money  on  that  kind  of  folly.  You're  mistaken.  1  turn 
away  humbu,<jr,t,Mng  inventors  from  these  doors  every  dav 
in  the  week.' 

I'erhap's  that's  why  your  rival,  the  Connecticut 
Spoke  Company,  is  ,c:cttin.c:  on  so  well.  I  want  you  to  be 
my  partner  in  this  invention.  If  vou  furnish  the 'moncv  to 
patent  it  I  will  s,nvc  you  a  half  share.' 

"  The  injudicious  reference  to  the  Spoke  Companv  put 
a  spoke  in  my  wheel,  for  the  old  man  hated  the  new  firm 
with  a  virulence  that  almost  brout^ht  on  apoplexy  when 
any  one  mentioned  it.  He  ordered  me  out  of  the  office  and 
told  me  never  a^ain  to  enter  it  unless  I  was  sent  for.  As  a 
matter  of  fact,  it  was  Laffin.  the  foreman,  who  lent  me 
the  two  hundred  dollars  necessarv  to  protect  the  inven- 
tion and  go  to  Xew  York  to  place'it.    lie  was  a  practical 


"  Hides  tlic  wild  marc  with  the  boys  "     149 

ti.ev  clHl  tlie.r  .luty  well,  .mikin,^^  ,nc,„ev  for  t hnmdvcs 
and  for  me.  too.     My  first  chc(,uc  was  'for  two   ■"  t  m, 
sand  dollars,  and  Ivc  had  nianv  a  one  since      I  v  ra    cr 

se    W  tSd?'"' n"  ,^f'-^''>-l>'^  -n  called^on  Jl^r  lo  : 
sel  and  tried  to  sell  him  state  ri-hts.     l'.onsel  treated  the 
proposal  with  sreat  contempt,  and  said  he  Ind  funrk 
man  m  his  factory  who  had  heen  doin^l    i  ni  a    tri  k  L; 
years.     This  naturally  alarmed  the  \ew  York  mn.        1 
.c^an  to  see  ahead  of  hin^  lawsuhs^A      h,    m  "n  e,"^ 
patents,  or.  al   the  mildest,  his  own  patent    n^Sed 
1  e  lK-«:j,ed  Monsel  to  send  for  this  workman,  and      was 
ordered  tip  from  the  paint  shop  in  mv  spotted     osenh' 

hat  I  had  had  but  one  interview  with  the  old  man  "  ? 
had  forgotten  this  brief  and  exciting,  visit.  I  r^o  nised 
(dassthrop-s  man  at  once,  but  it  was  some  moSs  he 

t^:^:;:^^-ath-';^-^:r^^^^^ 
^;ri-;^con^^:di- ----^^^^^^^^ 

O.  that's  all  ri-lit.'  he  exclaimed;  '  this  is  the  vonn.. 
man  who  placed  the  invention  in  our  h^nds  i n  X e w  Yc^k- 

"  r  t  n'",  •'"'Vr'  '"  •''■^'^^  Vork?'  thunderel  15on  el 

.   I  told  h.m.     He  ras:ed  round,  savincr  that  I  had  been 

usm.,.    he  tm^e  he  paid  for    to  further  mv  own    m   1       I 

i-alled  his  attention  to  the  fart  tint  T  i,;  1       I  ■      . 

ordered  the  .New  York  man  out  of  the  office  ' 

It   doesnt   matter,    Mr.    Mitchell.'   said   the   latter- 
your  patent  has  been  sold  for  a  considerable      m  in  In' 
diana,  so  we'll  see  you  through.' 

"  I  went  back  to  the  shop  t(j  bid  e-ood-bvp  tn  T  -,«;         . 
the  bovs   Tnrl  thi.  V,...,  v     1  ^  -     ^°  Lathn  and 

tne  Doys   and  the  x\ew  \orker  went  over  to  the  office  of 

•'  I  jomcd  Uk  New  York  firm,  and  a„,  now  one  of  the 


I 


^50 


The  Victors 


ii= 


i-' 


company.  Thus  I  am  in  a  box  car  makinir  my  way  to 
Chicasro  to  conclude  a  big:  deal  there,  and  so  we  come  to 
the  end  of  a  Ion,-  story,  which  is  merely  the  bej^innin^  of 

atience^*"^       '  ''""  ^''^''"*''^  "^'^'^  exemplary 

The  low  rumble  of  the  frcij^ht  (rain  had  formed  an 
accompanmient  to  the  recital  in  a  continuous  monotone 
Jim  sat  statuesqucly  through  it  all.  but  durinj?  the  latter 
part  lien  had  arisen  and  was  pacing  back  and  forth  in 
some  excitement,  running  his  fingers  now  and  then 
through  his  long  fair  hair,  which  badly  needed  cutting 
His  eyes  shone  in  the  semi-gloom  of  the  car,  and  when 
the  raconteur  stopped  talking  Ben  threw  out  his  hands 
and  cried : 

''Air.  Mitchell,  there's  the  hand  of  Providence  in  this 
Ood  directed  me  to  take  this  train,  and  I  knew  we  were 
to  meet  someone  who  would  show  us  the  way." 

Mitchell  looked  up  surprised  at  this  outburst,  a  cold 
business  gleam  in  his  eye,  the  unenthusiastic  glance  of  a 
man  who  does  not  care  to  see  the  trail  of  sense  obliterated 
or  obscured  by  the  antics  of  hysteria.  Jim.  whose  trend 
ot  mmd  led  him  towards  appreciation  of  the  stranger's 
standpoint,  rather  than  towards  sympathy  with  his 
friend  s  cloud-like  altitude,  interrupted  : 

"Hold  up,  Ben.  hold  up.  You  know  nothing  of  the 
kind.  You  said  that  if  a  brakeman  threw  us  oflF  the  train 
that  would  be  an  indication  of  the  wishes  of  Providence 
to  which  proposition  I  demurred,  holding  it  would  be 
merely  a  manifestation  on  the  part  of  the  railroad  com- 
pany that  it  did  not  wish  to  forego  its  legal  fare  ' 

Hen  turned  upon  his  comiade  aglow  with  indignation. 
How  is  the  Lord  to  show  His  will  except  through  in- 
cidents which  we.  in  our  blindness,  regard  as  trivial'" 

"  Pm  sure  I  can't  pretend  to  tell  vou,  P.en  " 

"  Very  well,  then ;  don't  attempt  to  make  up  lor  lack  of 
knovyledge  or  thought  by  sneering.  Yesterday  it  was  im- 
possible for  me  to  predict  in  what  form  His  guidance 
would  come;  this  morning  I  simply  recognise  what  I  see. 
Yes  Mr.  Mitchell,  he  continued,  impulsively,  turning 
to  the  stranger,  "  we  are  the  two  young  men  you  have 
been  lookmg  for. 


"Rides  the  wild  mare  with  the  boys" 


151 


of   emotion   in    Mr. 


,,J^^\i  was   a   marked   absence 
Alitchell  s  reply. 

f  l^^'f^'     ^?''  ""''"  P^'"^""  '"^^  but  I  did  not  know 
1  was  looking  for  anyone." 

•'  That  is  very  likely.  I  didn't  know  I  was  looking  for 
you.  but  such  ,s  the  case.  Everybody  is  on  the  ouflook 
for^^someone  who  will  sell  him  f(ve  dollars'  worth ^r  a 

;;  That's  true.    What's  your  five-dollar  article?  " 

of     SterHnl"!;'  ""j^'^^"^  '^^^'^^  ^hat  we  have  to  dispose 

up  every  da';  ?"''  ^°'  "''"P'"    ''  *''^^  *°  ^e  picked 

•'  I  don't  suppose  it  is.  still  it  is  one  of  the  most  value- 
less  thmcfs   on   the   mark-pt       V\'-.   f^i  vduic 

^  ^  ou  place  no  value  on  honesty .'  " 

ness     oVrlw-  ^  ^"''  ''  "'ll^"'^  ^«^«  ^"h  incurable  dul- 
emninv    T  .     v''  ^■°"  Y'^  ^^^^'""^  "°^^  ^^  ^0^'"??  into  mv 
employ  ;  I  don  t  pretend  to  misunderstand  you     You  want 
your  chance,  as  you  say.  and  you  think'you  have  ^ 
a  man  vvho  may  perhaps  be  able  to  offer  you  an  opn^r 

tion'rest  f^  T  "'"  ^'^^  !  ^^"'  ^^^  ^'^  -'»  '^^  ''^at  q^ L 
IrZu  I  T  ""  "'°T"^-  -^^  t'^^'  merchants  say,  it  is  no 
trouble  to  show  goods,  and  the  first  web  vou  unfold  on  the 

Sed  in  mrn'-  .''  l'  \'"'^  ^''  P^'^^^"'  -^  "uch 
J)raised  in  moral  books ;  but  I  would  rather  have  a- smart 

SlTb  ;'  T"^"""'  "'^"  ^^•^"'''  defrauT^rirhe 
could  than  a  slow,  honest  person.  I'd  soe  that  he  rlidn't 
Jjettlie.bj.tcr  of  me.  and  I  ii.ouUl  profit  b;  ^l:!;Ln;t: 

tlie^'iodk'i      T  "'''''  ""''  'r^'  sentiments  before,  and 
tnev  took  1        by  surprise,  so  he  stood  there  confounded 
with  no  rep;,   ready.     It  was  Monro  who  took  uo  the 
conversation  vtrv  quietly  P 

close'^fo'^Chtgi?' ^  "'''  ''  ^^^''  "^^^  ^'^^^  -^  -^  ^^«-g 

"You  think  there  isn't  much  honesty  in  Chicago?     I 
guess  you're  not  far  wrong."  ^ 

"  You  mistake  me.    I  have  no  doubt  that  Chicago,  like 


'i  1; 


I  hMi  11 


152 


The  Victors 


i 


any  other  larj^c  city,  has  a  ^rcat  deal  more  honesty  in  it 
than  u  ^^ets  credit  tor.     I  was  o.dv  reterrini  to    he  tac 
that  1  see  throu.d,  the  chinks  of  both  doors    nd  we  are  a 
ready  at  the  scattered  ri„^.  iVnce  of  the  place,  a^id  so  I 
compI,me„t  you  on  the  appropriateness  of  your 'talk  to  my 

;;  I  must  confess  I  don't  see  the  drift  of  your  remarks.  ' 

sourcefuhiess  as  if  you  p..ssessed  it  and  J!en  didnV 

either  ofTn?"T'"'-  ,  /  -'''^  T^''''^  "«^^''"^»  ^"X  1^^'<  '" 
e  htr  of  >ou ;  I  coukin  t  speak  of  wliat  I  have  no  knowl- 
edge. an.I  may  say  without  self-flatterv  that  I  am  con- 
sulered  ratlier  a  «:ood  hand  at  a  pinch  "  ' 

1  d.sa«,ree  with  both  your  i)rop„s:tions.     In  the  first 
ace  you  have  knowled.^e  of  I'.en's  resourcefulne     :  and 

a  valise  m  his  hand  some  hours  a,£To.     He  was  -oinij  to 
the  caboose,  to  l>e  flun^  out.  valise  and  all,  on  the  road  as 
soon  as  he  was  <Iiscovered  there.    Until  I'.en's  resourcefu 
hand  helped  you  into  this  box  car  you  were  a  ditc^n 
tram   and  .so.  as  I  say.  ,t's  all  ri^ht  for  vou  to  talk  bi- 

ii;:^:^o^'S:.o"^"-""^^^°^^--^-'>— ^^^ 

Mr   Mitchell  lau.i^died  heartily   and  seeme<l  in  no  way 

ofTended  by  the  outspoken  bluntness  of  his  critic  ' 

1  hat  s  the  way  to  talk."  he  said.    "  I  h'ke  that  method 

of  expressing  ones  self  much  better  than  anv  can"  to 

Yes^'S;:  o  I'rovu  ence  or  boastin,cr  of  immaculate  moPaR 

vou\-2  .        -I''-     ^Y'  i^  '^'"^^  '^^  ^^^^^'  to  shou-  if 
>ou^uant  to  make  a  sale.     Now.  what  else  have  you  tc 

Ben.  beinsr  directly  addresse<l  by  this  query    and  hav- 
njT  m  sportin.,M>hrase,  recovered  his  second  wind.  rep!ic-d  ' 

"\vT't''!"^""^'°"  of  his  former  enthusiasm: 
....       a\-  .  ''''  ''^"  '''^""  ^"''  ourselves  indefatiijable 

energy.  \Ve  re  not  atraid  of  work.    If  we  get  a  doUar  a 
day  we  1    try  to  earn  five  for  the  man  whoVvs  us.''^ 
Ah.  that  s  first-clasc  negotiable  goods.     Won't  wash 
though.    Doesn-t  keep  its  colour.    You  won't  be  long  in 


"Rides  the  wild  marc  with  the  boys"    153 

you  will  com.  to  the  a  r  clu      „  ,ln    ^^'""""^'-    ">'"'<II.y 

the  extra    four  .lullar    as  '     /  '"•''^'  '''  ''''"  '^•'»^^' 

HKht.      It'scvcry„;;:;ri    :--;;-- ,-'''>V.ni.e 

Vou  claim  honesty  and  indu  irv    .    1  ''  "'"'  *'^'"■• 

al.ihty  in  a  crisis/   U  ha         .      ,\  •      '  '""  ''T  '"■"^^■" 
Monro  took  the  wor      ro„n,     r    " '  r'  '"  "'^^■'■-  " 
"  Wc  have  to  offer  vo.        V        '""''  '  '''"'''^  "^""t''- 

box  car  wit^,uut  d  hc^  ;^.:,^  :;::^v'*  ^^^^r  ""^  ^^  '^'^^ 

into  the  arms  of  authoHt  V ";,'\':;;:,:!r'  '"■  '•"""'"^' 
at  a  crossinjr.  Throw  m.-n  »  h  ^^^I'l^^'''  tor  a  moment 
to  the  left      Tl,         ?        '    "  ''"'•'  '''"""^  ^"«l  sprintr  out 

v^  im  lap  rth?^:^;" ;:;'" ''''  r'^  --^^^ric 

Anyone  who  is    m  t  o  i!ni  '"'T  *'""""'^^'^  '''^'  "-ain. 

ah^tosee':^':;;;;;;!;:^-^--^ 

toc^'JlSt^t^ih^fd^i"  '^'T-  "^^  ^^'"^"'"^  -  ^"-' 

-street  oJ  the  r  -d  t   -^         7'    •^^'"'^^  '"^  ^''"■'■'^•'-  ''^'--^'^^^  ^'h" 
tnanv  w  t      li  no    Z;"  ^••^.'■>>;, '""'•"'"«: ,^tou<I  had  collected, 

to,.-ther  li k    ^s    ;  a    "m    '  Th ".f''  ""'  "'^"^  ^'■^'■^■^^"^ 
tnadc  for  the  barr.Vr  nf  I?     ,  7  "^  ""■'"'-'  ''I'''^"^'  «"t  and 

rtishin/to  imerc^rttn         '"'  '"  ""^^''""^"'  ^"^^">- 

a  dolL;  hllolS  ma^^t;;^^' "l-^"^^^'^-  f  ^^^'"^  "^^^ 
Where's  tl,e  nearesrstreel  car-'      ' '^  '"  "''^^■'*  "  '""•'•>■ 

-an'' '' ySi 'i;;^ 's  thr^^'"'"•''  ^^°^^'^''  ^^'^^  -^^^i- 

le^'  taken  afT  ve '"^       ''  '''"''^'  ""^^'  ^°"  ^^'^^  ^nd  ,^.et  a 

smili    °"'"  '""'"'  "'  '■^■^"-"  ■■  -i.i-Mi.cl,d,  with  a 
ouerlgh,.''"'  '"''■"  '=•■''  ■''"'•  »■"'  "«-■  ^W"  man  laughed 


m 


I 


li 

'r 


m 


.t'i»#«..    »iJ>.'w«k'»n«r. 


CHAPTER    XI 


'THEV  ark    rilKIFTY,    IIONKST   MEN  " 

The  street  car  jopped  its  leisurely  way  throujjh  a  most 

uninteresting,  scattered  district ;  wooden  shanties,  wooden 

houses,  and  here  and  there  a  i)rick  huilding  at  a  corner, 

standing  high  above  its  surroundings,  the  upper  stories 

with  a  deserted  look  about  the  windows,  evidence  of  some 

sanguine  man's  premature  belief  in  the  rapid  expansion  of 

the  city.    At  first  the  street  car  line  was  elevated  above  a 

dirt  road  from  whose  uneven  surface  every  passing  v- 

hicle  raised  clouds  of  grey  dust,  then  came  pavement,  anr! 

the  plank  sidewalk  seemed  less  ragged,  while  the  house. 

were  higher  and  closer  together.     Xow  and   then  they 

passed  a  bit  of  uneven  stone  sidewalk,  the  broad  flags  left 

as  they  had  been  heaved  by  the  frost  of  last  winter  or  the 

winter  before. 

IVIitchell  sat  silent,  in  his  corner,  and  the  voung  men 
feelmg  sleepy  and  up-all-nightish.  had  little  inclination  to 
talk.     All  were  t-nmed  with  dust  and  cinders,  and  earlv 
though   It   was  the  pavements   were  stiiding  up  a  dry 
exhausting  heat.    The  car  had  left  its  terminus  practically 
empty  as  the  freight  train  had  crossed  its  custom  and  held 
back   Its   passengers,   but   as   it   went   on   it   soon   filled. 
Mitchell  sat  in  the  corner  at  the  rear  door,  with  his  eve 
continually  questioning  the  street.     At  last  he  saw  an 
empty  carriage  drive  from  one  of  the  side  residence  ave- 
nues into  the  broad  thoroughfare  down  which   ran  the 
car  line.    Through  the  open  window  he  hailed  the  driver. 
Are  you  engaged  ?  " 
''  No,  sir." 

"  Then  I've  got  three  passengers  for  you." 
He  stopped  the  car  and  grasped  his  valise. 
»54 


^YSBCJS- 


I( 


They  are  thrifty,  honest  men 


155 

to"orXcc'  '""  *'  "^  ^"■"  ""'^•^•>'-  "-^^  one  accustomed 

oui'  iS:^  "  "'l^i:^t^ '?  ^'-  -'•: -Pli-I  Jim.  with- 
you  later  in  the  clay  >  ••         '  ''"'"'^-    ^^'^*^'-^"  '^"^  ^ve  m.et 

tali- w  "c-ry::';';^^'  '"'"''^"^'^•-  *•  -^  -"•' 

scat?     Conic  on  ••  ^       '''  ''^^'''"'^  ^'"^  ^^ii'"g  for  your 

form!s't"pfdoff"^\t'd:r''"^^  ^^°^^^^  °"  ^^^  P>«t- 
ot  tl..  cab     "  rahncr  II  "     ^  f^  ^"'  ^^''^^  ^°  the  driver 

tcr  had  follouecT     rn   iTV-^*''f'^''^"^''>'-    ^^^^'-'^"i- 
l^c".     The  car  u  en t  on  •^""  '"'"'^^^  ^^^  ^""owed 

wte^.^^'rf^'"'     I'm  Iiungrv." 
When   the   three   were   sca».ii     t'L 

passed  the  street  car  '      '^   ''^'"^^*'   ^P^^^'ly 

j^;;  VNVre  not  goin,.  to  the  Palmer  House."  said  Jim.  at 

unliM^iS^v?;::.^'  '"'  ^'""  ^^^-  ^"  the  same.    Ifs 

youVe  not  .oinAorn^.^aTSaSst"^  '^  "''''  ^'^ 
better  restauranf«  ,n  fU-  "rcaktast.    There  may  be 

PalmerHouS  l7u  'aUr7  ''"1/'^  °"^  ^^'the 
sentable  breakfast  thisZn tg  i  we  ^  ib^  ">  T  ^  ^^'^- 
way.     I  take  it  vou  h-xvJLH  ^°  ^t)out  it  the  rijrht 

to  me  breakfast  i  the  mn^^P''^'°"'  appointment,  and 
mediate  future  •'  ^  'mportant  event  in  the  im- 

'*  Don-nTJT  '''■''''''  •■"  ^  «tyle  suitable  for-" 
i-'on     let  that  worry  v.,u.     T„s't  thank  ( ■    i         • 
an  appetite.     Besides    I  thinL-  ,  "*''  -' ""  ^'*-"  R^ot 

business  talk  witl  ,'  j  \'"  Vo  /  '"^"'  ''\^''''  ^  ^'ttle 
only  time  I  shall  hav  Mo  spare  um/'^^;""'-  u^^'^"'  "'^ 
moment  until  breakfast  th^e  A  e  tnt "  '^'  P'""/' 
what  you  please  "  that   you  can    do 

ci^'z/^zs^  ;hetr;??;r '''-'  ^^  ;'^^  ^--^^^ 

the  huj?e  hotel.  "^  ''''''''  "I'  ^^  the  portal  of 

A  sprijrhtlv  netrro  spran -  ou-   -m.!       -      ,     . 
Mitchell  paid  the  cabman   irrieflv   w i t /t hTl    '^'!-  ^''"'"'• 
who  knows  what  is  the  right  thing  lo^and'Jo::  it.  r 


ii 


n 


'  I 
I 

i 


\i 


ili.;, 
ill 


n 


)..  '^.^BStHBisr  I'^M  'IHRF  «i&«:.';  •iwiM  \ ;  '^wummwfss 


156 


The  Victors 


tins:,  off  all  (liscussion.  if  any  is  attempted,  by  ti.rninir 
abruptly  and  followinfr  the  laden  coloured  man  ' 

;  I  want  the  best  room,  that's  vacant  in  the  house."  he 
saj d  to  the  diffmfied  imperturbable  clerk  at  the  desk 

^o  17,"  remarked  the  latter,  quiatly,  takinj?  down  a 
key  with  a  metal  flan^'e  loosely  attached  to  it  and:  ffivine 
It  to  a  negro,  who  took  Uie  bag  from  the  hall  porter.  "  I 
think  i\o.  17  will  suit  you.  Mr.  Mitchell." 

''  Has  it  a  bath-room  attached  ?  " 

"  Certainly.    Just  arrived,  Mr.  Mitchell  ?  " 

'  Yes." 

"  Why,  what  tr^in  did  vou  come  on  ?  " 
"  Special." 
"  Ah." 

Mitchell,  with  a  word  to  his  new  acquaintances  to  fol- 
low hnn    threaded  his  way  through  the  lofty  rotunda 
already  thronged  with  people,  until  the  negro  unlocko.l 
the  door  of  i\o.   17    and  waved  them  into  a  large  bed- 
room, with  a  dressing-room  and  bath-room  adjoinincr 

'  Look  here,  nigger,"  said  Mitchell  sharply  when  thr 
menial  had  unstrapped  the  valise,  "  how  many  persons 
are  staying  at  this  hotel  ?  " 
"  I  dunno,  sah." 

"Well,  it  doesn't  so  much  matter  how  manv  there  are 
q^  long  as  you  remember  that  the  whole  lot  of  theni 
vvon  t  be  as  good  to  you  as  I  will  if  you  amount  to  a  rxjw 
of  pins.    Just  feci  the  texture  of  that,  nigger !  " 

The  white  man  handed  the  black  man  a  five-dollar  bill 
and  the  grin  of  the  latter  broadened,  as  he  gave  vent  to  i 
loud  "  Yeh,  yeh.  yeh !  "     He  rubbed  the  paper  between 
hnger  and  thumb,  saying:  "  Yct's  got  a  nice  com'fubel  feel; 
bout  it,  sah." 

"  Yes,  it  .a,  and  the  comfortable  feel  will  increase  if 
you  put  it  safely  into  your  pocket  Now,  that's  a  begin- 
ning, and  .>;ee  here,  nigger,  whenever  Xo.  17  drops  in  the 
office  indicator,  what  are  you  going  to  do.^  Scratch  your 
head  and  meditate  awhile,  and  then  come  loiterin"-- 
tiirough  the  halls  and  tap  at  the  wrong  door."  ^ 

"  Deed  I  ain't,  misteh  ;  I'm  going  to  fly  right  here  to  dis 
room  quick !  " 


''^^msmmxs^M^i'M'.sgtr:VK%',»  :m 


sf^ussssv^em^^^m^tmmmla* 


I( 


Th 


ey  are  thrifty,  honest 


men 


That's  rifrht.     N 


157 


tub,  and  see  that  there's  nl 

man   ttr^^i^     ...  ' 


ow  turn  on  the  water 


cntv 


into  the  bath- 


man  wants,  we  will  sqv"fiVC".'V  "'  '"^^>''^-     ^ 'ic  avcraL't 

TK„  II      1  -  •  "^^     t   want  fifteen  " 

had  so  lavishly  tipped  hh«  U  h.  n?"'  '°  '^''  ^^•'■^«"  ^^''^ 
o/-  pouring  wate/Sorn^  i  '  M!,S["^"^''/'-f-^ 
tbrce  whisky  cocktails    nni.=l       '^I'tchell  said :  "  Jjrinii 

s.>.nethin,^  eL.  sent  W  ^'""'^^  '•^^^'^'-  ^nnk 

"  We  don't  <  rfnk  '  sakfthJ  K.  '  "^""^  ^""'"  I'"'^^°"-" 

"  ^^  ell.  it's  a  bit  earlv  bm  nf  "  ^''""''- '."'"  '^^^^''^'•• 

it  would  hurt.     N^'    All  ri^hf '"n"'"  '''^'  ^  :'«"'t  tl»"k 

The  nigger  seemed  to  tmn  t  ov.MnsT' '"'.'•  '''"'^^''•" 

fturry  to  be  quit  of  the  room  '  '''^  ^^^^  '"  '^'•'' 

andhul^i^u'^':^;!^^;^ ^"'  -  he  t.rew  off  his  coat 

a  bit.  ^L  sit^do.v„";riorc1.e:rfuf  ^r'^"^'  °^  T' 
a  swim,  if  the  water's  Imn.Vi  1  ,  .  '"  ^'""«^  '"  ^'t 
In  St.  Louis  or  Louisvi  S  v  """^'^  ^"'"  "^^  ^^  •'^ink  ''"• 
the  lake  here  it  oiXV  i  '  ^'""'"'''>'  "^"^'-  ^ut  out  of 
braces  werTdan'^lf^^  bo^TaTh'- h"'"^'^'?'^""  "'^ 
came  in  with  the  cockt-Ul  Zhtu\  ^'^'f  ""'  ^'^^  ^^^itcr 
Preciative  sip.  the^cla  L''off'  V'tosr.^'^'  "'^'^  ^"  ^''- 
and  comforting.     I  sav   nnUr    ■    "r  ^'^'''^  '  Rratcfnl 

in  die  restaurant?"     ■       ^^'^''  ''   ^^'"  ^^'^  head  waiter 

seh.'-''  ^■"'  '"'"    ^""'^'"'^  ^^'^  alon^  without  Tom  nohow, 

Afiiclie!? <?^;v^orlirif"  '"/""^  ^"^'  ^^"  ^'"^  ^"J^"  L- 
in  his  life  before.    T    u jL  t^     '"i'"""  "^'"  '^'^^'*  '^'^  ^^•''^ 
chicken,  if  either  b  r  H s   '        ^"  ^"^'.  ''"''  ^'■'"^'''  P'-airio 
if  hes  jTot  anv  ,  ice  r  ,  o    "'"'""•     '^"'''  ^°  "^^^^•"  ^^ith. 
em  filled  up  wi  1   pouil  M  •'  ""^"V^.n^elons.  just  have 
bim.  and  that  he'l    nev      h  ''"    ^''^  ''•""  ^  ^^^^^  '^  a"  to 
on.  for  mv  anpeHt    wiM  a.  ^  I  '"  "T"  ^''^''"^  ^"  ^^'°'-'^- 
after  the  coffee  hims       'S  ^kSt  for'th'"^  ''"/"  '^^'^ 
niessen^cr  to  room  17  as  soon  a.  t  is    eadv ''"''  ''"'  '"^ 

As:ain  the  colored  irentlem^n  bmi    f         t' 
a  deHr^us  haste  that\vtcZi::r  ^   Sd'^'  "^"^  ^''' 
There  .s  no  country  in  the  world."  tte  the  voice  of 


I 


I 

f 
t 


T 


158 


The  Victors 


Mitchell  from  within  the  folds  of  an  overhead  shirt, 
*'  where  they  make  better  cotTee  than  rifjht  here  in  these 
United  States.  Talk  of  the  coffee  of  France !  It  doesn't 
compare  with  the  best  in  America,  when  you  strike  a  cook 
who  knows  how  to  make  it." 

The  last  words  came  from  the  bath-room,  and  a  moment 
later  there  was  the  sound  of  a  plunj:je  and  a  wallowinjj. 

"  Whew !  This  is  fine.  I  say,  boys,  don't  stand  on  cere- 
mony, but  throw  off  and  prepare  for  the  swimming  hole. 
You'll  feel  a  hundred  i)er  cent,  better.  I'll  be  out  in  a 
minute,  and  there  will  be  lots  of  time  before  breakfast.'' 

Jim  laughed.  "  I'll  take  that  offer,"  he  said,  "  Ben, 
after  you.    No;  go  ahead.    I'll  follow." 

It  was  the  head  waiter  himself  who  came  to  announce 
breakfast,  and  he  found  all  the  three  men  anxiously  aw;>it- 
ing  him,  thoroughly  refreshed  by  their  immersion  in  the 
cool  water  of  the  lake. 

The  sumptuousness  of  the  breakfast-room,  the  splen- 
dour of  the  china  service  and  silver  dishes,  the  choiceness 
of  the  food,  the  deftness  of  the  waiting,  all  impressed  the 
unaccustomed  young  nien  as  rivalling  anything  they  had 
ever  read  or  imagined  regarding  bancpieting,  and  they 
could  not  understand  why  a  dyspeptic-looking  man  at  i 
table  near  them  was  querulously  complaining  that,  with 
the  single  exception  of  a  nickel  restaurant  in  Waco,  Tex., 
this  was  the  very  worst  eating  house  on  the  American 
continent.  To  the  boys  it  seemed  that  the  restaurant  was 
an  exemplification  of  the  extreme  to  which  luxury  in  liv- 
ing could  extend,  while  the  delicacy  of  the  viands  sur- 
passed their  wildest  dreams.  Here  was  what  wealth 
could  do,  and  wealth  was  what  they  were  after.  "  It  isn't 
bad,  you  know,  for  a  hurried  snack."  said  Mitchell,  as  he 
did  the  honours  of  the  table.  "  If  I'd  known  I  was  going 
to  have  company  and  had  been  sure  of  reaching  Chicago. 
I'd  have  telegraphed  to  Tom  last  ni'.dit.  and  then  you 
should  have  seen  the  layout  that  would  have  awa'ted  us. 
Still,  with  a  good  appetite  even  a  Chicago  restaurant  is 
possible." 

Here  was  exemplified  the  superciliousness  of  the  east 
thought  the  young  men  to  themselves,  for  they  doubted  if 


"  They  are  thrifty,  honest  men  "        159 

New  York  or  Boston  could  liave  anvthinj;  better  to  offer 
1  hey  srave  no  expression  to  their  a(hriiration  and  wonder' 
but  took  It  all  as  a  matter  of  ccnirse.  with  the  imperturba- 
bility of  the  American  under  unusual  conditions,  a  trait 
which  perhaps  the  climate  imparts,  as  it  imparted  the  gift 
of  repression   to  the  orij,n„al    inhabitant,   the   red   man 
During  the  meal  iMitchell  showed  nt.  inclination  to  talk 
business    but  conversed  airily  on  fi.hing  and  hunting  in 
the  north  woods,  the  excellent  l)reakfasts  of  the  camp  and 
the  delights  of  a  pipe  over  a  log  fire  when  evening  fell  in 
the  for«^t.  by  the  side  of  some  placid  lake  or  brawling 
river.    He  appeared  to  possess  great  knowledge  of  woo(i- 
craft  and  of  wild  life,  and  his  wanderings  with  rod  and 
gun  harl  taken  him  far  afield.    As  he  talked  in  most  en- 
tertainin/  and  instructive  fashion,  the     (uing  men  began 
to  feel  rather  overawed,  and  it  was  difficult  to  'magine 
that  this  was  the  man  who,  but  a  short  time  before    was 
sitting,  somewhat  unkempt,  on  a  strapped  valise  in  an 
empty  grain  car.  There  was  now  a  fresh,  spick-and-span- 
ness  about  him  that  was  almost  foppish,  and.  although 
there   was   nothing  in   his   raiment   to  particularise,   his 
guests  felt  rather  than  saw  that  he  was  the  best-dressed 
man  in  the  room.     His  clear-cut  face  lit  up  wonderfully 
with  enthusiasm  over  the  pleasures  to  be  had  in  forest  and 
stream,  and  they  were  at  their  ease  with  him  largely  be- 
cause they  saw  he  enjoyed  their  appreciation  of  his  in- 
teresting conversation.     He  talked  away  all  their  self- 
consciousness,  which  might  have  embarrassed  them  if  thev 
had  opportunity  to  think  that  their  own  garb,  never  of 
artistic  cut,  and  unimproved  by  tramping  along  country 
roads   in  the  summer  dust,   was  decidedly   incongruous 
amidst  their  present  surroundings. 

When  this  never-to-be-forgotten  l)reakfast  was  finished, 
Mitchell  led  the  way  to  his  own  room  again,  lit  a  cigar 
and  threw  himself  into  the  mo.st  comfortable  armchair 
that  the  apartment  contained. 

"  Now,  young  men,"  he  said,  "  I  can  give  vou  ten  min- 
utes, and  during  that  time  I  will  do  most  of  the  talking. 
In  the  first  place,  how  much  money  have  you  ?  " 

Jim  and  Ben  looked  at  each  other,  as  if  in  doubt  who 
should  be  the  spokesman,  then  the  former  said: 


r, 


I  . 

i   > 


m 


i6o 


The  Victors 


li    f  i' 


I 


r 

If  f 


"  Well.  Mr.  Mitchell,  we  are  rated  in  Bradstreet  at 
between  twenty-five  and  thirty  dollars." 

The  New  Yorker  blew  a  balloon  of  smoke  in  the  air, 
and  laugrhcd  the  good-natured  laujfh  of  a  well-fed  man! 

*'  Twenty-five  each,  or  between  you  ?  " 

"Twenty-five  is  the  combined' wealth  of  the  syndi- 
cate." 

"  Rather  und<rcapita!ised  I  should  say  for  a  Chicago 
syndicate.  Now  one  of  my  maxims  in  life  i«  never  to  be- 
lieve a  man  is  going  to  sign  what  he  savs  he  will  sign 
put  up  the  amount  of  cash  he  says  he  wi'll  put  up  or  in 
short  do  what  he  says  he  will  do.  Thus  I  am  never  dis- 
appomted.  When  a  man  comes  up  to  his  promise,  it  is  all 
pure  gam.  and  when  he  cioesn't.  then  it's  only  what  I  ex- 
pected. Thus  is  disapi)ointment  eliminated  from  life,  and 
all  our  surprises  are  pleasant  surprises,  a  consummation 
devoutly  to  be  wished.  What  do  you  boys  expect  from 
me  ?  " 

"  Nothing,  so  there  is  no  necessity  of  hedging." 
"  I  wa.sn't  hedging  so  much  as  laving  down  a  basis  for 
future  action— future  possibilities  of  action  rather 
Blessed  is  he  who  expects  nothing.  In  the  first  place  1 
don  t  know  that  I  can  do  anything.  Much  will  depend 
on  my  partner,  in  fact  I  may  call  him  my  chief,  who  rarely 
leaves  New  York.  If  he  consents  to  einplov  you,  it  will 
be  hrst  on  some  forloni  hope.  He  will  set  'vou  at  some- 
tliuu:  where  another  man  has  failed.  Now  the  most  dis- 
couraging thing  in  the  world  is  to  go  over  ground  where 
some  fool  has  bungled.  Would  vou  be  willing  to  tackle 
.such  a  job?"  '  "^ 

"  We'll  tackle  anything,  but  perhaps  it  would  help 
on  a  mutual  understanding  if  you  would  tell  us  just  what 
the  business  is :  what  we  would  be  expected  to  do." 

Mitchell  sm  )ked  for  a  few  moments  in  silence,  chuck- 
ling to  himself  quietly. 

"I  was  just  wondering  to  myself  how  long  it  would  be 
before  you  asked  that  very  imjx^rtant  and  leading  question 
I  have  been  admiring  the  supreme  confidence  of  youth 
ready  to  precipitate  itself  into  the  unknown,  certain  of 
success.    Very  well,  oM.r  firm  is  a  growing  firm.    By  and 


"  Tliey  are  thrifty,  honest  men  "        161 

by  we  hope  that  if  they  want  U,  transf(jrm  Chicajjo  into 
a  hmited  liability  company    wc  can  undertake'  the  task 
with  the  same  fcelinj,'  of  modest  comiK-tencc  that  yoa  dis- 
play  in  otiferinj4-  to  link  your   fortunes   with  ours.     At 
present  we  take  up  a  promisin--  patent,  we  will  say.     Jf 
it  is  a  small  thincr  like  my  own  invention,  we  send"  g'hh- 
tongued,   persuasive  young  men   to  the   leading  manu- 
facturers and  sell  state-  rights  ;  it  it  is  a  big  thing  h\  some 
world-renowned  scientist,  we  form  state  companies;  in 
either  case  we  try  to  make  something  in  ready  cash  for 
ourselves.    Xow,  if  you  think  you  are  able  to  form  a  state 
company  for,  let  us  say,  a  new  patent  fire-escape,  you  go 
to  the  most  expensive  hotel  in  the  citv  where  vou'expc^^t 
to  operate,  you  interview  the  big  mtn  of  the 'place    von 
quietly   distribute   quantities   of   stock   at   vour   disposal 
where  it  will  do  the  most  good.     Then  the  dear  public, 
seeing  these  leading  men  in  the  thing,  expecting  to  "-et  in 
on  the  ground  floor,  take  up  the  st.Kk  for  sale.'  and  there 
you  are.    If  enough  o-f  them  bite,  you  succeed  ;  if  not  von 
tail,  and  have  a  big  bill  to  pav  at  vr.nr  hotel.     That's  a 
rough  outline  of  our  scheme :  what  do  you  think  of  it  ^  " 

"  An-  the.se  companie.'^— do  they— we'll,  are  tlicy  usuallv 
sjccessful :  that  is.  do  they  pav  t'he  people  who  risk  their 
money  ?      asked  Ben,  suspiciously. 

"  You  mean  are  they  swindles'?"  O.  bless  you,  no.  We 
couldn't  keep  an  ofifice  open  at  that  rate.  They  are  some- 
times overcapitalised,  sometimes  mismanaged^  sometiilies 
successful,  but  we  endeavour  to  have  nothing  to  do  with 
any  scheme  that  is  bogus." 

"  If  we  were  to  undertake  the  forming  of  one  of  your 
companies  an<l  failed,  would  we  have  to'stand  the  loss  of 
our  expenses?  ' 
'•  Certainly." 

'^' Can  you  get  people  to  work  on  those  terms?" 

"  Hundreds  of  them." 

"  Well,  that  counts  us  out.  f  lowever  willing  we  mi-ht 
be.  we  are  the  people  who  don't  !)uy  Chicago  because  we 
haven  t  the  boots.' 


si 


Well,  that's  th 


low.  and  that's  the  kind  ot 


e  way   it  struck  me.     You   wanted  a 


outside  man  \vho  believ 


show  we  have  to  oiler  to  an 


111  himself. 


li 


II 


1 62 


The  Victors 


I  i 


ill 


O,  you  are  not  offering  a  show ;  you're  offering  an 
investment  or  a  speculation,  and  we  don't  happen  to  have 
the  money  to  invest  or  to  speculate.  I  should  guess  off- 
hand that  in  a  business  like  yours  there  must  be  something 
for  two  young  men  to  do  by  which  they  can  earn  money 
rather  than  risk  it,  and  in  the  doing  of  their  work  give 
some  indication  of  their  abilities,  if  they  have  an> .  Tiiat's 
what  I  call  a  show,  and  if  you  have  nothing  like  that  to 
offer  then  there's  no  use  of  us  taking  up  any  more  of 
your  time." 

"  All  right.  What  I  want  to  impress  on  you  is  that  you 
are  to  expect  nothing.  Anyhow,  I'll  write  a  letter  about 
you  to-night,  and  when  you  show  up  in  New  York  they'll 
know  at  the  office  who  you  are;  then,  if  you  expect 
nothing,  anything  you  get  will  be  clear  gain.  How  will 
that  suit  you?  Now  the  next  question  is  that  of  ways 
and  means.  Of  course,  I  don't  expect  you  to  work  your 
way  to  New  ifork  on  a  freight  train,  however  expert 
you  may  be  at  doing  so.  Besides,  it's  slow,  and  the  man 
who  gets  along  nowadays  is  the  man  who  is  quick.  I  pro- 
pose to  give  you  each  a  hundred  dollars.  How  will  that 
suit  you  ?  " 

"  You  mean  as  a  loan  ?  "  asked  Beu. 

"  I  mean  it  any  way  you  like  t  take  '.t.  Yes,  as  a  loan. 
You  may  pay  it  back  whenever  you  are  ready  to  do  so.' 

"  I  think  that  is  playing  it  rather  low  down  on  you, 
after  such  a  short  acquaintance,  and  I  don't  just  like 
to—" 

What's  the  use  of  talking  like  that,  Ben,"  interrupted 
Jim,  with  a  suspicion  of  impatience  in  his  voice.  "  We've 
got  to  have  the  money,  or  we  can't  live  in  New  York  when 
we  get  there,  even  if  we  roughed  it  through  to  the  place. 
I  hate  to  take  the  loan  as  badly  as  the  next  man,  but  it 
will  be  paid  back  all  right  enough.  I  guess  Mr.  Mitchell 
has  no  doubt  on  that  head,  but  even  if  he  has  I  imagine 
if  we  had  held  him  up  last  night  and  demanded  twcj 
hundred  dollars  to  get  hir  to  Chicago  he  would  have 
forked  it  over." 

"  That's  exactly  the  basis  I'm  going  on,  I  would  will- 
ingly have  given  five  hundred  dollars,  so,  you  see,  I'm 


"  They  are  thrifty,  honest  men  "         163 

in  three  hundred  on  the  deal,  and  you  need  have  no 
qualms  about  taking  the  money.  I  put  it  on  the  basis  of 
a  loan  to  please  you.  for  I  see  you  are  a  trifle  sensitive  in 
the  matter;  a  condition  of  mind  that  will  siK-edily  rectify 
itself  before  you  are  long  in  New  York.  \er\  well,  here 
is  the  money." 

He  counted  it  out  from  a  long  pocketbook,  which  held 
the  bills  without  the  necessity  of  folding,  and  the  boys 
saw  that  he  was  well  provided. 

"  Xow.  although  you  are  in  possession  of  my  name.  I 
don't  think  I  have  heard  yours.  Mr.  McAllister,  eh? 
And  Mr.  Monro.  Thanks.'  Now.  Mr.  McAllister,  let 
me  give  you  a  word  of  advice.  When  you  meet  my 
partner,  James  (ilassthrop.  you  wmII  meet  the  shrewdest 
business  man  in  this  pretty  large  country.  Do  not  play 
off  on  him  any  of  that  ranting  about  God  of  which  you 
gave  me  a  specimen  in  the  car.  He  would  merely  think 
you  were  crazy  or  were  trying  some  game  on  him.  and  in 
either  case  he  wouldn't  like  it.  I  have  no  doubt  you  were 
and  are  perfectly  sincere,  but  then,  you  see. 'l  travel 
round  the  country  and  meet  all  sorts  of  people.  James 
Glassthrop  doesn't,  and  I  don't  believe  he  thinks  God  has 
much  to  do  with  business,  if  he  thinks  of  the  matter  at 
all." 

"One  of  the  commands  of  the  Lord  is  to  be  diligent  in 
business."  said  Ben.  reddening  under  the  cool  contempt 
of  the  other's  tone. 

"Quite  so.  quite  so,"  replied  Mitchell,  nonchalantly. 
"  you  can't  get  me  into  any  theological  discussion.  It 
isn't  in  my  line,  and  I've  no  doubt  you  could  floor  me 
with  texts  if  it  came  to  a  contest  of  tliat  kind.  I'm  merely 
giving  you  a  friendly  hint,  which  you  can  use  or  not  just 
as  it  pleases  you.  If  you  want  my  opinion,  it's  against 
you.  I  think  there  is  a  time  for  everything  and  that  the 
time  for  scriptural  quotations  is  not  during  a  business 
conversation." 

"  Pnit  don't  you  think,  sir.  that  our  business  conduct 

should  be  regu " 

"When  dr.  yon  prr^posc  h--  -tart  for  New  York?" 
"  I  start  to-night,"  answered  Jim.  decisively. 


II 


i 


I 

■Si 

■;!-•- 
I, 


164 


TliL"  Victors 


I  suppose  you  will  travel 


I  'li 


n 


.       I     i 


"  That's  the  way  to  talk, 
tofjether?" 

Both  looked  at  Hen,  who  made  no  rcplv.  He  stood 
there  with  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  fioor.  chagrined.  Mitchell 
thouj,dit.  at  his  recent  rebuff,  but  Jim  spoke  up  with  a 
laug^h. 

"1  think  the  Lord  wants  iJcn  to  go  d(Avn  to  see  his 
girl  in  Central  Illinois." 

Mitchell  sir.iled.  and  Den  darted  an  an^jry  plance  at  his 
traitorous  companion. 

"  I'm  jroinff  down  to  see  my  sfirl.  as  vcni  put  it,  because 
1  want  to  pro.     Have  you  any  objection?  " 

*'  1  haven't,"  said  Jim.  cal'mlv,  "as  long  as  you  arc  in 
i\ew  York  within  the  week." 

"  You  have  no  girl  to  go  to  see  then  ?  "  asked  the  elder 
man. 

"  Not  likely,"  replied  Jim.  with  decision.  "  I  want  to 
see  some  money  coming  in  before  I  indulge  in  a  luxury 
of  that  sort.  Ben  here  always  was  an  idealist,  with  a  faith 
in  the  future  which  is  sublime." 

"Well,  here  is  the  address  of  the  firm,  and  these 
cards  will  serve  as  letters  of  introduction."  iMitchell 
wrote  a  word  or  two  on  the  cards  and  handed  them  to  the 
young  men,  rising  as  he  did  so. 

"  I  expect  to  reach  New  York  in  about  a  week.  I  shall 
perhaps  see  you  there.  Clood-bye."  Thus  dismissed,  they 
left  him,  and  he  took  a  book  from  his  valise  which  had 
every  second  page  perforated,  lie  inserted  between  the 
first  two  leaves  a  sheet  of  carbon  paper  and  wrote  in 
duplicate : 


Di-.\R  Gi.ASSTTiRop— I  think  I  have  the  tw'o  men  we 
want.  One  of  them  will  call  on  von  about  the  time  you 
receive  this ;  the  other  a  few  davs  later.  I  believe  them  to 
be  honest,  and  expect  them  to  remain  so  long  enough  to 
serve  our  turn;  however,  do  not  take  mv  judgment  of 
them  as  final.  Test  them  for  vourself.  and  then  en-a^e 
them  or  dismiss  them  accor.linsr  o  the  conclusion  "you 
arrive  at.    Their  names  are  McAllister  and  Monro. 

Yours, 
John  L.  Mitchell, 


K'-'^. 


BOOK  II 
THE  FOOT  OF  THE  SLOPE 


CHAPTER    I 

"journeys  EM)  IN  LOVERS'  MEETING" 

iLMNois  is  flat  enough  and  fertile  enough  and  un- 
picturesque  enough,  but.  Hke  every  other  state,  it  has  its 
beauty  spots  In  one  of  these,  at  the  side  of  a  pretty 
d.nglc.  stood  the  schoolhouse  of  district  No.  4,  distant 
two  tmles  and  a  half  from  the  town  of  Stormbom.  yet  a 
tTon"near'r*'  """  s"8:sestion  of  any  human  habita- 

School  had  been  dismissed  for  the  day.  and  the  teacher 
a  tair-haircd  t^.d  of  twenty  or  thereabouts,  sat  at  her  desk 
absorbed -n  ex;iminmg  the  writing  exercises  of  her  pupils 
Uoor  and  wmdows  were  open,  for  the  afternoon  was 
warm  and  the  shght  current  of  air  which  nlaved  with 
some  wisps  of  hair  about  her  forehead  was  refreshinff 
m  Its  caressmg  coolness.  The  silence  was  intense,  and  it 
seemed  to  the  girl  that  she  was  entirelv  alone  in  a  world 
of  stillness.  ( .radually,  however,  a  subtle  sense  of  human 
companionsinp  stole  over  her.  and,  without  knowing 
wh>.  she  looked  suddenly  up  and  was  startle!  to  see  a 
man  standing  like  a  statue  in  the  doorwav.  With  a  quick 
gasp  of  alarm  she  rose  to  her  feet ;  then  recognised  her 
visitor  as  he  came  forward  with  a  laugh, 
wu^"  ^^'" '"  ■'^l^f.  cried,  "how  you^  frightened  me. 
Where  on  earth  did  you  spring  from?  I  thought  you 
were  in  Michigan."  *^      ^ 

»6S 


i_ 


i66 


The  Victors 


?} 


I 

I 


\  i 

1^ 

■ 

1 

I 

'  i 

■ 

'  = 

w 


I  i 


I 

t  J 


WU 


"  No,  Connie."  replied  our  radiant  ynunj^  acquaintance, 
advancinsr  up  the  aisle.  "  I'm  school  inspector  in  Illinois. 
Sprin^r  from?  I  didn't  sprint;  at  all.  I've  hcen  |)rowlinfj 
round  this  e.xasjjerating  schoolhouse  for  hours — for  hours 
Connie;  lyiiij.,'  low  in  the  woods  yonder,  playing  the 
giddy  savage  among  the  trees.  1  feel  like  a  character  out 
of  one  of  Fenimore  Cooper's  novels.  And  then,  when 
those  tiresome  children  were  gone.  I  stole  up  to  this 
edifice  with  all  the  craft  of  a  Sioux." 

"  But  why  didn't  you  come  in  long  ago?  Visitors  arc 
always  allowed  at  public  schools." 

"  I  knew  you  wouldn't  like  it.  Con.  and  so  I  sacrificed 
myself.  With  all  those  little  gossips  about,  a  man  has  to 
use  circumspection.  Well,  mv  darling  girl,  how  are 
you  ?  " 

"  ()  Hen,  Hen,  don't !  Please  be  careful ;  some  one  may 
be  looking  in  at  the  win<lows." 

"  There's  no  danger,  Connie.    This  place  is  as  deserted 
as  the  Sahara.    However.  Ill  make  sure." 
"  O  lien,  what  are  you  doitig?" 

Ben's  design  was  soon  evident  enough.  He  took  the 
key  from  the  outside  of  the  door  to  the  inside,  and  locked 
himself  and  his  fair  companion  in.  Then,  going  swiftly 
from  one  window  to  another,  he  unloosened  the  cords  anil 
allowed  each  of  the  thick  pajier  blinds  to  drop  its  full 
length.  These  shades  displayed  a  background  of  deep 
blue,  and  on  this  background  had  been  printed  in  gaudy 
colours  impossible  landscapes  and  waterscapes,  heavily 
laid  on. 

"Ben.  this  is  simply  scandalous!  What  if  someone 
should  come?  " 

"  My  dear,  that  is  the  very  contingency  I  am  guarding 
against.  Let  'em  come.  They  can't  get  in.  ui-r  look  in." 
The  room  was  nou^  suffusetl  with  a  bluish  gloom, 
mitigated  by  a  suggestion  of  crimson  or  yellow  from  the 
western  blinds,  on  which  shone  the  declining  afternoon 
sun. 

"Why.  what  a  hasty,  inconsiderate  person  you  are.  Ben  ! 
The  windows  are  still  up.  and  any  one  outside  has  only  to 
shove  aside  the  blind,  and  tlioti  wlnt  will  they  think  of 
their  schoolma'ani?    I'm  amazed  at  you," 


•'Journeys  end  in  lovers'  meeting"      167 

"  That's  so."  a^rreed  Hen.  -  We'll  remedy  the  defect  in 
a  minute  and  he  closed  the  windows.  '•  Now  vveVc 
secure.     My  sweetest  ^irl.  let  n,e  Io<,k  at  vou."      le^^k 

lacc  into  hers.        Why.  Constance.  vouVe  actuallv  nal.. 
Vou  ve  l.een  overworking  yourself  "'  '    ' 

fashion-"""  ''""'*'  ''"  '""'■''^'^^'  ^•""""'■^•''  '"  "'-  '"-i^-and 

all  protist.  .f  there  were  protest.     Dear  me.  children    it 
was  ju.st  as  well  vou  went  honK.  and  <,uite  t  me   U^> 
would  have  shocke,!  your  little  innocent  he.    ts' to  have 
seen  «,rown-ui,  Peo,.le  act  in  this  silly  fashion.     An^l  who 

hav     rn';;"''!""7' '''''  '"''-  ''"^"^^  ^^'''-'  teacher  wo 

:^rf\fl^'l'  'r"-  'r''''''''  .>'""'-self.  and  sit  down.  Please 
act  hke  a  ration.)  ,n^r."  u  was  time  some  censure  was 
passed  upon  him.  -  Here,  tat,-  mv  chair-ifs  the  onlv 
o^ie  in  the  room-ami  Fll  stand  at' the  desk  hefore  vou 
You  are  the  schoolmaster  now.  and  I  the  pupil.  >|ea  e 
tel  me  all  ahout  yourself  and  vour  doin^  Has  he 
peddlins:  been  a  failure,  then  '  "  '  ^ 

Yo.',t[-?"tl  "1  "''•  ^:T''-  ^""^  ^  ^^'°"'t  ^^it  in  the  chair. 
You  take  the  chair.     ( )h.  y,Hi  must  do  as  1  tell  vou       Ini 

the  truest  you  know,  and  it  isn't  hospitable  to  refuse  the 
Eraser.  I  should  hke  to  ^^o  to  this  school.     I  tVel  the  need 

nprht.  \  uu  look  hke  a  queen  on  her  throne,  Connie  •  [ 
suppose  all  the  Httl.  ruffians  in  the  neighbourhood  are'in 
love  with  vou.     Well,  how  do  you  hke  teaching?" 

^m,  1  hke  It  very  much.  and.  if  I  do  sav  somvself  I 
get  alouR  creditably  with  it.  Ihit  tell  me  about  vourse'lf 
Is  Jim  with  you  yet  ?  "  '        "       ' 

''.Jim's  gone  on  to  New  York.  We  separated  at 
Uucago.  he  going  east  and  I  south.  I'm  going  east  in  a 
day  or  two,  but  I  simply  couldn't  leave  without  comin- 
first  to  see  you.  even  if  the  fortunes  of  the  cuntry  de- 
pended upon  It.  Do  you  walk  iiome  and  back  niffht  and 
morning?"  * 


M 


a 


^m^ 


!ffnwfwifrp^^ 


■I'V  i  ■*•-_.■■ 


T^ 


•yvr 


MICROCOPY   RESOLUTION   TEST  CHART 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


1^ 

■r  |i6 

1^ 

IS. 

i^ 

i  1.8 

^  >1PPLIED  IN4/^GE 

^^  1653   EosI   Main   Street 

g*.^  Rochester.    Near    York         14609        USA 

^—  (7t6)   482  -  0300  -  Phoi.e 

^S  (716)   2fl8  -  5989  -Fox 


1 68 


The  Victors 


it 


Yes.  It  s  very  pleasant.  I  bring  my  luncheon  with 
me  in  a  music  roll,  which  acts  useful  and  looks  profes- 
sional.    Are  you  to  join  Jim  in  New  York  ?  " 

"  Yes.  Oh,  that's  a  very  long  story — a  wonderful 
story,  1  think ;  but  time's  too  precious  to  tell  it  now.  Have 
you  been  as  happy  while  teaching  school  as  when  attend- 
ing college  ? " 

"  Oh.  yes,  quite.  What  are  you  two  going  to  do  in  New 
York  ?  " 

"  To  do?  I  don't  know  what  Jim's  going  to  do,  but  1 
intend  to  provide  a  home  for  the  most  charming  girl  in 
Illinois." 

"  Really  ?  "  said  Constance,  laughing.  "  How  nice  that 
w  ill  be  for  the  charming  girl  i  " 

"  I  hope  so.  I  tell  you  what  it  is,  Connie.  I  will  be  the 
best  husband  that  ever  was  married  to  his  best  girl ;  now 
you'll  see  if  I'm  not.  My  wife  shall  have  anything  she 
wants — a  fine  house,  lots  of  servants,  a  carriage,  luxury, 
all  that  money  can  buy — and  I'm  going  to  make  the 
money."  He  brought  his  fist  down  on  the  desk  with  a 
force  that  nearly  split  the  lid.  "  Yes,  sir,  everything  that 
money  can  buy.  I  feel  just  as  certain  of  it  as  if  I  had  the 
cash  in  my  pocket  at  this  moment." 

The  girl  continued  to  laugh  quietly,  but  very  content- 
edly. 

"  Money  isn't  everything,  Ben.  It  takes  more  than 
money  to  make  a  man  the  best  husband,  just  as  it  takes 
more  than  plenty  of  servants  and  a  fine  house  to  make  a 
woman  the  best  wife,  which  I  hope  I  shall  be,  although 
I  will  not  put  forth  rash  promises,  that  you  may  recall  to 
me  when  I  fail,  or  when  you  think  I  fail,  which  is  the 
same  thing." 

"  O  Constance !  You  fail  I  I'll  take  the  risk  of  the 
failure.  All  I  ask  is  my  chance  to  get  along  in  the  world, 
and  then  you'll  see.  We  love  each  other,  Connie ;  not  for 
any  money  or  lands  that  either  of  us  possess,  and  that's 
the  way  the  Lord  intended  people  to  love." 

"  We  have  little  enough  but  ourselves,"  said  th  ?  girl, 
soberly,  "  but  I  think  with  you  that  mutual  affeaion  is 
all-sufficient.    Long  may  you  believe  so." 


"  Journeys  end  in  lovers'  meeting  "      169 

"  I  ?    I  shall  believe  it  while  I  live  " 

"  Then  so  shall  I,  Ben." 

"  I  tell  you.  Connie,"  cried  the  enthusiastic  voun?  man 
running  h.s  hngers  through  his  long,  straw-coloured  hair' 
a  habit  with  him  when  he  was  up  in  the  clouds,  his  usual 
altitude,     our  married  life  will  be  one  dream  of  heaven 
Honestly   I  am  sorry  for  folks  that  aren't  us  two;  1  look 
on    all    the  rest    of    paired    humanity  with    c«-'ntlc   pity 
livery  fellow  is  to  be  pitied  that  isn't  me.  because,  vou  see 
I  have  you,  and  what  can  his  possessions  amount'to^ "    ' 

.  iu  Ain""'^'.""^  ^''""''''  '^  ft-iffJit^'-^s  me  to  hear  you 
talk.  What  a  disappointment  will  be  yours  if  disappoint- 
ment should  come!  I  am  afraid,  a  mere  earthly  person 
like  me,  to  be  brought  into  direct  competition  with  the 
angels  which  your  too  fervid  fancy  cause  to  hover  round 
you.  1  am  but  a  most  commonplace  girl,  Ben ;  the  glori- 
ous attributes  with  which  you  dress  me  exist  onlv  in  your 
imagination  How  can  I  hope  to  keep  you  thus  demented 
all  your  life?  And,  if  you  suddenly  turn  eane,  what  is  to 
become  of  me  ? 

"  But  Constance,  don't  you  think  I'm  the  greatest 
fellow  that  ever  lived?  Don't  vou  believe  I'll  do  every- 
thing I  say :  conquer  the  world  that  I  set  out  to  con- 
quer ? 

"  Oh,  you  ?  Of  course.  That's  an  entirely  different 
thing.    I  am  talking  of  myself." 

_    "  Well,  do  you  know  why  I'm  the  greatest  fellow'    It's 
just  because  you  think  me  so ;  that's  all.     I  guess  there's 
nobody  really  more  commonplace  than  me.  if  you  come 
right  down  to  facts,  but  I  tell  you.  Connie,  we're  not 
dealing  with  facts,  or,  rather,  we're  dealing  with  the  only 
real  facts  there  are,  which  is  our  belief' in  each  other 
1  m  all  these  things  simply  because  you  think  I  am     If 
the  rest  of  the  wortd  said  to  me,  '  Ikn  iMcAllister  '  you 
don  t  amount  to  anything,'   I   wouldn't  believe  them— 
wouldn  t  begin  to  believe  them.    I'm  the  Ben  McAllister 
you  think  me,  and  there  isn't  anv  other.    Here's  my  life 
plainly  mapped  out  for  me.  and  all  I've  got  to  do  is  to 
follow  the  diagram.    But  if  you  said  I  didn't  amount  to 
anything,  then  Id  colhpsc," 


i  ! 


\m\ 


i 

illl 


170 


The  Victors 


I'll- 

m 


III 


'  i 


■  H  i  i 


In  that  case,  Ben,  you  need  have  no  fear  of  collapsing. 
1 11  always  believe  m  you.  But  you  haven't  told  me  what 
happened  to  you  „i  Michigan.  Oh,  by  the  way,  did  vou 
ge  my  letter  ?  I  sent  it  to  Ann  Arbor :  that  was  the  last 
address  you  gave  me. 

"  Yes.  I  got  it,  just  before  we  had  an  extraordinary 
adventure  \Mth  another  pedlar  " 
*•  What !     Three  pedlars !  " 

"Yes  three  of  us.  but  the  third  was  much  more  than  a 
match  for  the  other  two.  To  tell  the  truth,  Connie.  I 
don  t  think  there  s  any  future  for  the  peddling  business 
m  this  country  unless  a  person  has  an  extraordinary 
amount  of  cheek,  and  has  a  tongue  that  would  make  him 
a  bigger  fortune  as  a  stump  speaker.  How  are  vour 
father  and  mother?  Shows  how  polite  I  am  not  to  have 
asked  sooner. 

"  They  are  both  quite  well." 

"Nothing  on  at  the  college  now.  of  course.     Is  your 
tather  as  much  set  against  me  as  ever  ?  " 
The  girl  sighed. 

"  We  don't  talk  about  you.  Ben.  One  of  us  mav  do  a 
great  deal  of  thinking,  but  there  isn't  anything  said 
Mother  looks  sympathetically  at  me  now  and  then  but 
neither  of  us  say  a  word  even  when  we  are  alone  Father 
IS  very  much  set  in  his  ways,  as  a  veteran  professor  in 
a  college  has  a  right  to  be,  and  however  exaggerated  a 
view  one  member  of  the  family  mav  take  of  your  at- 
tainments. It  is  counteracted  by  the  silent  depreciation  of 
another,  and  thus  the  balance  of  the  world  is  kept  equal- 

fi  r  H^''^' T^'"u'' •  ^T"'^'"  '"^^  the  young  man,  con- 
hdently,  I  11  bring  him  round  vet.  He'll  be  proud  to 
own  me  for  a  son-in-law  before  many  years  are  past  Do 
they  know  we  write  to  each  other?" 

A  A  ^^'  ,  ^^'^^  ^^^^^  t°  ^^^  ^^  ^  s^io"ld  tell  him  that  we 
did,  but  he  has  never  asked.  I'm  afraid  he  looks  on  me 
as  a  rebellious  daughter,  and  I'm  sorrv  he  does  He  was 
very  much  against  my  taking  this  school,  and  I  think  he 
set  down  my  obstinacy  in  resolving  to  do  something  for 
myself  to  the  trouble  we  had  had  about  you  " 


"Journeys  end  in  lovers'  meeting"      171 

"Say.  Connie  that  wasn't  bad  practice.  I  never  looked 
on  >t  m  that  h^ht  before.  If  a  girl  may  choosri  er  own 
But  drthev^  li'  '"'"  ''''  not  choose  I,er  own  husband? 
tint  do  they  ^nve  you  enough  here  to  keep  you  if  vo- 
werent  boarduig  at  home?"  ^ 

"  They  treat  me  sumptuously.  I  get  twenty-five  dollars 
a  month,  and  I  m.ght  board  round  free  if  I  wanted 
to.  Every  day  one  or  other  of  the  children  wants  me  to 
go  home  with  her.  I  assure  you.  Mr.  Mc.AllisterTt  is 
considered  a  great  honour  to  walk  home  with  the  teacher 

bv  s  orm  ^i'li^"";!     "^^  '^''  '""''^'■•^y  *«  ^^^'  ^he  schoolhouse 
by  storm,  all  others  are  most  respectful.     I'm  companv 

W   ..  ^"J 1°  '^  ''''^''  ^""^  ^"'  ''^°^^""  '"to  the  parlour,  which 
has   the   blmds   up   for  the  occasion.     To-day   I   vv^nt 

ZVLr"\  'V'^  °""  ^'"'^^  ^''^-^  long-promised  visit 
— and  had  good  things  to  eat." 

"  ^tm",  ^'^m"-  Connie,  have  some  mercy  on  a  hunery 
man  1 1  tell  you  what  I  want  you  to  do.  We  will  v.alk 
to  Stormboro,  and  then  you  will  come  with  me  to  the  best 

suppen"      '"     '"  ^^''''  '"^  ^'^'"  ^^^^  ^  ""^'^  S\oZ7^l 
"  Oh,  no,  no,  I  couldn't  think  of  such  a  thing.  It  v  ould 
be  all  oyer  the  town  before  two  hours  were  passed.     No 
It  would  be  much  better  to  brave  the  Douglas  in  his  hal 
and  come  to  our  house.     We  could  have  supper  there    I 
can  guarantee  you  that."  *  ' 

Co'n^i"^"^  "^""^  "^^"^  *"  "^^^'^  *^  uncomfortable  for  you, 

"I  am  sure  you  don't,  so  that  is  why  our  going  to  anv 

public  place  in  this  small  town  is  impossible.     Do  you  sa'y 

you  re  hungry  ?     cried  the  girl,  spri         g  to  her  feet,  the 

yearning  desire  of  woman  to  feed  iier  mankind  being 

aroused  by  his  admission  of  starvation.     "  It's  early  yet  " 

^^  harly  for  tea  perhaps,  but  mighty  late  for  luncheon."" 

U  you  poor  boy,  do  you  mean  to  sav  that  vou  have 

had  nothing  since  breakfast  time  ?  " 

"  You  sec  I  didn't  exactly  know  where  this  'temple  of 
learning  was  situated.  Your  letters  were  vague  on  the 
subject,  and  I  couldn't  very  well  go  round  "town  ask- 
mg,  because  I  m  pretty  generally  known  in  the  place,  and 


172 


Tile  Victors 


.;ifi 


that  would  be  as  bad  as  dininp:  out  together,  so  1  avoided 
htormboro.  circulating  round  it  in  search  of  tlie  school- 
house  by  the  wood,  and  thus  I  missed  niv  nical.  without 
really  rememberintr  I  had  done  so.  until' I  pictured  vou 
sittini,'  at  a  table  with  me,  and  then  I  i-:new  I  was  hunj^fy." 
"  ( )   dear,   ( )   dear,   how   inhospitable   1    have   been '  " 
cried  Constance.     "  My  poor  boy  shaM  be  fed,  and  that 
ns^ht  away.     You  see  this  wonderful  room  has  all  the 
resources  of  a  restaurant— that  is,  whenever  I  jjo  with  one 
of  my  little  .£-irls  to  be  her  ffuest  during  the  "noon  hour 
tor  on  those  days  my  own  school  luncheon  is  untouched  " 
i5he  hurriedly  si    ved  his  arms  off  the  desk,  and  leaninj? 
as  he  was  upon  them  she  almost  overthrew  him  in  her 
haste,  at  which  they  both  laughed.     Everv  incident  was 
subject  for  mirth  between  the  jovous  two.  'She  raised  the 
IH   of  the  desk  and  took  out  the  deceptive  music  roll   also 
a  htt  e  spirit  lamp  and  a  tinv  tin  kettle.     She  filled  the 
lamp  from  a  bottle  that  smelled  suspiciously  of  whiskv 
What  have  you  g^ot  there?"  asked  Ben.  "Alcohol? 
Little  girls  should  not  meddle  with  anything  so  dangerous. 
1  hink  how  It  would  read  in  the  papers,  '  Anothe-  yountr 
bdy  a  victim  of  the  alcohol  habit.'  " 

'  ')h  there's  no  danger.  Everything  has  its  use,  and 
Des.des  I  am  giving  you  a  great  moral  lesson,  an  angel 
of  light  conjured  up  by  the  powers  of  darkness;  alcohol 
assisting  in  the  making  of  tea !  Still,  for  safety,  I  alwavs 
place  the  lamp  on  the  iron  top  of  the  stove,  so  that  if 'it 
does  blaze  up  or  explode  or  anything  of  that  sort  there 
will  be  no  danger  of  my  setting  the  pl.ice  on  fire  md 
destroying  other  people's  property." 

The  miniature  kettle  was  soon  steaming,  and  the  deft 
young  housekeeper  lost  little  time  in  brewing  the  tea. 

"One  of  the  girls  brings  me  a  jug  of  cream  every 
morning  by  special  arrangement,"  continued  the  house- 
wife, as  she  set  forth  the  one  cup  and  saucer,  "  and  this 
I  keep  m  the  corner  of  my  desk  till  it  is  needed.  At  first 
I  upset  it  once  or  twice,  in  unthinkingly  rummaging  for 
things,  but  experience  has  taught  carefiilncss.  How  will 
/ou  have  it?     Sweet?  " 

"Connie,  does  the  adjective  apply  to  me  or  to  the 
state  of  the  tea  ?  " 


"  Journeys  end  in  lovers'  meeting  "      173 

''  As  you  like  to  take  it.  Hennie  " 
VVcll.  then,  the  adjective  is  mine,  and  the  tea  is  sv.-r^f 
cnou-ii  because  v.ui  made  it  "  '"'^ 

^^  But  aren  t  you  goin-  to  share  ?  " 
have  the^cup'"''  '  ''''  °^  ''"  ^'"""^  ^"^^  ^^"^^'•^  >'°"  «hall 

the  l^esJ  soci^v"'ii;';  /'  /'"'*  "'"^''^'"S^  ^^  ^'^^'  ^"^^^°"i^  of 
me  oest  society  m  whicli  we  nicjve.  to  its  adornmenf    u. 

™r'ir  n ',"  '"""■  7°"  '^-^^  >--  -'ip  fromth  c„'; 

and  tnen  1  11  never  miss  thp  sno-nr  "     a^  1  *i       ^1  ' 

foolish  people  talked  and'aSl^i^Jo^r  the'l"we': vJr'v'^^^ 
and  exceeduic,  y  fond  of  each  other,  and  i?  anv  one"f 

a 'cbse^cl  i^T'  '""•  '''  i  ^^  — ^^-^  that  sdU 
n  that  room  hut  themselves;  the  j;rirl  because  she  was 
techmca  ly  m  chargre  of  the  school  property  of  the  dfstrTct 

Wi  f.       .       ..^^  sensible  people  are  not  responsible 
And  thus  tlie  china  cup  passed  between  them  ofteneMhar; 

InS  ST/  ""  -f'  ^°^'"  ^'''^  ^""^'^t  subdued  lauXr 
un  1  suddenly  it  was  arrested  in  the  midair  by  a  knock 
at  the  door-a  knock  that  sent  the  colour  flvin/from^he 
SuslyS^  '''''  ^"'  '^°"^^^  ^-^  ^^-^^^^  --her 
,1;."  "^^~^Tr"  ^h''  whispered  under  her  breath,  lavine  her 

ie'riiX'^^^;:'  °"  "'^'  ^"•'  •"-  "-^  "o'-  -Hn^no^io:: 

"  Have  vou  cone.  Miss  Fraspr^  "  .-t-;  ,.1  •  •  , 

«<  T  1  .       ^,    "-.  -*ii3s  1  rastr       criecl  a  voice  outside 

^.  I  Im-e  my  buggy  here  and  am  going  into  town     nlve  a 
There  was  suspense  for  a  moment  or  two-  the  oatsider 

"  Well,  now,  I'd  just  Hke  to  know  who  that  is  "  said 
Ben,  takmg  the  precaution,  however,  to  speak  low.  "  Who 


1-  i   ■ 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1- 

J 
/    _ 

174 


The  Victors 


:if 


in  this  neighbourhood  thinks  he  has  the  rieht  to  ask  mv 
girl  to  go  out  for  a  bujjfj^'y  ride  ?  " 

"  Husli,"  repeated  tlie  ^irl. 

"I'm  going  to  see  who  it  is.  Tni  going  to  demand  an 
explanation.  Do  let  me  have  just  one  peep  through  the 
blinds. 

"  Will  you  keep  quiet  ?  You  mustn't  move  a  blind,  now 
that  they  are  down,  and  we  must  get  away  from  here  as 
soon  as  possible.  I  don't  know  who  it  is.  It's  just  the 
kindness  of  one  of  the  neighbours,  who  wanted  to  give  me 
a  lift  on  the  road  home,  and  if  we  don't  start  at  once  we'll 
very  likely  meet  him  returning." 

"  That's  what  it  is  to  have  a  guilty  conscience.  Con. 
You  see  how  calm  and  {jossessed  I  am.  I  don't  care  how 
many  of  the  neighbours  we  meet,  so  I  propose  we  wait 
here  till  it  is  dark,  and  then  sneak  into  Stormboro ;  all  on 
ytjur  account,  you  know.  I'm  perfectly  happy  where  i 
am.    This  i,-  the  best  plac€  I've  struck  for  a  year." 

"  No,  Ben ;  you  wouldn't  be  happy.     There's  nothin-'- 
more  to  eat." 

Now,  Connie,  I  call  that  right  down  mean.  You  evi- 
dently believe  in  the  truth  of  the  old  saving  that  if  you 
want  to  keep  a  man  good-natured  you  must  feed  the 
brut^  But  you  should  not  sav  unkind  things  to  the 
brute  after  you've  fed  him.  Miss  Constance  Fraser.  How 
deferentially  that  intruder  with  his  braggart  buggy  said 
'  Miss  Fraser ! '  " 

"  Yes,  you  might  take  a  lesson  from  him,  Ben." 

'  I'll  give  him  a  lesson  if  I  catch  him  proposing  buggy 
rides  to  my  girl  before  I  have  a  buggy  of  my  own.  He 
should  play  fair." 

"  We  must  go,  we  must  go.  I'll  venture  out  first,  and 
see  that  the  road  is  clear,  and  if  it  is.  you  are  to  follow 
like  a  stealthy  second  conspirator." 

Constance  had  cleared  away  the  tea  things  and  was 
nervously  putting  on  her  hat  as  she  said "  this,  while 
he  tried  in  vain  to  induce  her  to  stay  longer.  Her  con- 
fidence in  the  seclusion  of  the  place"  was  gone,  and  she 
could  not  conceal  her  anxiety  to  get  away. 

"Come,"   she  cried   froni  the    outside;  "all's  clear. 


"  Journeys  end  in  lovers'  meeting  "     175 

oTnt  h!"  ^  ""'".  •""''  -r  '"•  •'^"''  ^''^'"  y«"  will  have  to  pet 
a  bur^lan'"'     '"•  ""'  "'"  ^'"'  ^•^'^-  "^  '-'"^'  ^^^^  " P  - 
When  he  joined  her  she  continued : 

i    aar       lack  courage   for  the  surreptitious    ddiirhtf. 
thou,^h  ,.  may  be.     I  think  too  much  'of  whai  ihe  'world 

"  That's  conventional,  Connie  " 
and  \t2T'  '^  ''•  ^  ^°'''/""  ^  ^^'^^  a  commonplace  person 

"Oh,  httle  liennie  will  take  care  of  himself,  don't  vou 
^  rry.  An(  now.  Connie.  I  suppose  vou  are  iroint^  to 
ttr^  "''  ^^^'■'^  '''  ^''  '-  ^'''  town,  thlt  ymr^ay 

.7  t:^^v:fkr  r  •'  ^•""^'-  '^>'--^^^  ^'-  ^-  -^  - 

;;  ^^rtamly.    That  is  part  of  the  conventionality  " 
Ah,  well,  ,t  can  t  be  helped,  and  1  have  the  consolation 
of  knowmg  we  have  still  two  miles  of  a  walk  befor    ^^  " 

=irbL:!^Sed:l--'-^--^^^^ 

liow  fortune  does  favour  hypocrites.  Bennie!" 

L  se  the  sm.irular,  if  you  please,  teacher.    There's  onlv 

lcln^;PSr"1ra  ITh-     ''^'  ?'''''  \'  '  '''''  ^^^  -""   -t 
uutsu  I  tare  it  all  the  work   spps   1  m       lAn  ;~.,v      i  . 

to  walk  beside  his  Kirl,  anywhere  '  '"' '  "*"""^'' 

man      Vol,'?'  Tl' ■'°'  T  '°  ''^^  ^''^-  "V  'loar  voung 
man.     You  are  defyniff  tlie  world  in  Leneral    wh'ich  is 

Ca^'fS'n  a^f  '°  'f  "T  "-=  "•°''<'  i"  P-ticl 

anZSfor;i^r  s:ni;;\j^s.='D::;';'.:^Es^ 

"T.ie  clumsy  masculine  mind  appreciates  the  situation 
and  proposes  a  remedy.    Say.  Connie,  let  us  iSl    to  New 
York  tojreher.  and  there  .iis.Iain   the  ^^reat   world  and 
i^^^fwSt;:^^^^^'^-    ^---ope.  Con;.ie.    Wi;:;!sthe 


m  \ 


J  76 


TIk'  Victors 


ill! 


I.  i 


:il   't 


tlUTc's 

L()<)k 

pocki't 


where 


'• /\K'ree<l."  oriel  thv  ^jirl.  with  a  nierrv  laiiirh    "but  I 
.avcnt   .Irawn   nn    salary  yet.   s...  „f  n.urse.\;,„   ,    vJ 

••Money!"  shotite.l  the  cor'  lenoe  of  v.xtth-  ' 
no  hm^  ,n  tlu-  ^vorl.|  s„  easy  t,.  .  ,ake  as  moni-v 
cit  this. 

McAllister  plnnnv.l  |,.s  lun.l  i..,„  i,is  fn.,:sers  poekel 
an.I  .irew  out  a  n.H  ..f  wealth  M.at  a-rtainly  lo..ke,l  in 

Miall.  an.    a  (.ne-.lollar   ^r  enluck    is  exaotiv  the    same 
M/e  as  a  thon<:u,.|-,lolIar  hill.     l:,.„  fo„n.i  it  as  neces;""; 

of  the  roll  s:ave  h.m  a  pleasure  in  han.llitiff  it. 

i'ear  me.    sai..  Mi.ss  1-raser.  in  astonishment,  ' 
(hd  von  pet  all  that?" 

ije„;s  ima.t,n„atio„  waved  its  opti.nistic  hand  metaphor- 
r):l-J\  f'  ''"''  ''''•'*'"''•  ^''•"  <''^'  ^"»"'-^'  ^vas  quite  as 
uas  a  m   honaue   with  wa.t;p„n-loa,ls  of  money. 

( )h.  that !  1  hat  s  merely  the  first  instalment  of  wh; 
-s  wa.t.nff  for  n,.  m  X.w  York.  I'm  to  be  praetiralK  tlu 
partner  of  a  man  rated  at  five  millions.  I>ed,HinLr  failed 
ot  c.n.rse:  tor.  .uter  all.  ped,llin,tr  is  r.erelv  peddlin^^  1  is 
the  man  who  substitutes  a  profit  of  a  thousand  dol.ars  on  a 
U-al  for  a  prot.t  of  two  cents  on  a  trade  that  j?ets  H  -I 
I .m  .^omp  to  work  with  lar.v  fi.£ri,res  when  I  Jt  to  \ew 

The  j^^irl  stopped  in  her  wajk  and  looked  at  her  com- 

\Vhv  "n  n".      "''  fn'  ^'r  ''■■^'^''^""ti".^^  of  the  future. 

V\  hy.  Ren.  1  m  awfully  .i,dad  to  hear  that.  I  thought 
I  was  meetnii,^  a  man  who  had  failed,  and  not  ont  u,  rhe 
very  current  of  success.  Instead,  then,  of  condolintr  with 
you.  I  am  to  congratulate  vou.'^ 

IJen's  honesty,  never  lon'sr  dormant,  awoke 
,  Connie  Connie.  Connie.  I'm  hoastin-  a-ain ;  count- 
m.ir  nnhatched  chicks,  as  I'm  alwavs  doin^^  No  h-s  pile 
.sn  t  as  valuable  as  it  looks.  There's  a  little  ov;r  a  hun- 
dred dollat-s  here,  and,  so  far  from  being  a  partne^  with 
a  very  wealtliy  man,  I  am  not  quite  sure  that  I'm  even  an 


It 


J<»iinit'ys  end  in  lov 


i'iiir'l''.vfc.    His  last 


crs'    mctlii);^f "     177 


•nls  hi  MIC  wcrr  ti 


"f  ••"Mrs,.,  ihal  ,vM,.„,is  i„  |„.  „,.„     \v  ,      ;'l  "«!■'.  I"i- 
am.  ton,,,,.!    \vi  I  il„„i    .p. .  .  ''■'    ''  '"■■iKKarl  . 

"'■.-:■';■  i-v -  ..i.'i  ;i„„' rv,'lr„r,r-' '""• 

a.ma;;™i  1^;:.^;:'' ■:'■''■«'' ''^ '''-'■'« '■■'■>"'--'-... 

■■  Who:      -nK-  iii,n  ,,r  liie  «iv,~.?" 
iso.l— and  ycl— aiKl-nl— ■■  "^'""I'l'lil)    'li»illiT,si,„i 

"  Pell  me  ahoiil   tliis   Xc\v  \'()rk-  u^■n^      ti         i-  , 
tiKTv  arc  ,n„rc.  „„|.„rl:..nt  lhi„i;s  ,„  a„a„.'e    "',,w   F  u.     .' 

late^-:"^-ra:-^^';r,Tnr:^•r'^^^^^^^ 

(law.'lc  all  ,lav  in  ,l,c  coves  a nd  bavs  of      „  7 1 "  """''^ 
wla.,  >ve  a.e  at  luncheon.    Ho':' doT U«t tife^Jo^f^^''' 


idi:. 

i 

-•l 

1 

iii 

1 

I7S 


Tlu"  Viilors 


For  sonic  momnils  tlu-  ^iil  w.ilkr.l  ;il..n^  U-^uU  him 
h«r  hra.l  ,|,mn.  in  .Irrp  iIioukIiI.  SIu-  s.^1i,.|  .,i  |.,-.i  an.l 
sat  1 1 : 

"  riurr  .,iv  .litrunllics  in  llu-  \va\,  ll.ii  I  s|„.iil.|  lik«- 
!<•  s|HMi<|  ihr  .lay  wiiii  vun  ..nl  lli.rr.  I.iil  lliriv  niav  Ik- 
M'inr  |.u-,n^-  at.»..|,  an.l  (l.r  u|„.lr  ...,.„  ,„av  nni.lv  its.If 
aUmi;  thr  >li..rcs  of  tlir  lakf  " 

Mini  uf'II  turn  l)aik  ami  «iii..v  the  rniplv  town,"' 
"Oil.   It's  easy   for  >,,„  |,,  lanj^li  at   iiic,    r.rii.  I.iil    sun 
inn>t  ni.innlur  thai   I  ha\»-  t<.  hvr  htic." 
I'or  a  wh  !i',  yfs." 

'■  I  !iav,'  to  h\c  hrrr.  and  I  .lon't  want  luoplr  lalkinir 
.ihoiil  nu'.'  ^ 

'•  ArtMi'l    -.on    jiiM   a  littli-  too  sriiNiliv,-  on   that    i.oint 
C  onstaiKT?  '■ 

■■  \iTv  likrly.  \\\.  wonun  arr  what  wf  arc,  lUn  and 
wo  can  t  very  wdl  lulp  omsvlw^.  If  von  w.iv  nv,ivrd 
at  iny  hoiiu-  as  yon  shonid  \k\  rviMvliiini;  wonl.l  he  so 
diMfri'iil  ;  hnl  sinoo  'tis  as  'tis     " 

'■  Wliv.  tju'ii.  \vc  must  inaki-  thi-  Ihni  of  it.  and  not  ho 
clioatod  oni  of  onr  ri.chts.  C'oiistaiuv.  von  fri^^hton  iiio 
with  your  .loop  rospoot  f.)r  tho  ..pinions  of  othors  ro^Mnl 
mii  actions  that  arc  our  own  affairs  i.itiio!>.  Are  wo  to 
be  trcatod  forovor  as  if  wo  woiv  ohil.lion?  lias  it  ..,,no 
out  of  tho  fashion  at  Storinl)..ro  for  a  vonn-  man  io  walk 
out  with  a  .vouhl:  woman?" 

"  !  know.  I  know.  I  halo  to  .lo  anvthitij,'  that  has  ovon 
the  appoaraiK-o  of  Ivini:  nndorhan.K  .1.'  I  want  to  jjo  with 
you  of  oonrso.  hut  I  fool  thai  tho  ri-lu  thinj,'  to  do.  and 
tho  honost  thinn  to  do.  would  he  to  sav  to-nii;hi  I,,  mv 
fathor:  'Mr.  McAllistor  has  oomo  from  riiioa.i-o  to  soo 
1110.  Ho  IS  K^.ii.ir  on  to  \ow  ^'ork  vorv  S(H.n.  and  wo 
may  not  moot  a.i;ain  for  a  I.-n-  timo.  so  I  i)roposo  to  .sp.-nd 
tho  day  with  him  to-morrow  at  ( )riol  lako.  and  hv  will 
call  horo  at  nine  in  tho  mornin-  to  tako  mo.'  That '.s  what 
1  shonid  ilo  and  say.  hut,  frankly.  I  havon't  tho  couraj^o." 
"  \\hy?  He  couldn't  whip  vou.  as  if  von  wore  ono  of 
his  own  pupiU.  T  like  a  sirai-htforward  course  mvsclf 
\N  hy  nt)t  do  it  ?  " 
"Oh.  it's  easy  to  .say  '  why.'     He  would  make  thuiL-s 


>vl.al  an.  v,.„  ^,  i,"      ,  „„  - :;.-"  ~ ''"'"'  -"H  "I'I'V.s. 

.•im;.,,u  .„,,  «,,,';.:;;';i;;:,„j;::,:;r'-- 

Mv.  !;;w\n:'';.c ::;;;  ;::^'"''' '■' ''-''^ --'■-■  V.,,, 

;H'r.-,;, ■•  ■        ■'"  ''■'"  '"^  """  "■■'>   "f  '..i.iK  ,|is 

In  that  •lisa^'rccalilc  ■'     \\',.ii   /•  , 

Yourfa.lKTi.^„,;r,i,,,,^      ;,'••;-•      "-"Mo  know. 

cnm.s,o,lu.(ina,,,Mu|,:"    '•    "^^^ 

.r.v;;::;;l;:;:;:'^ ::;;;--;;-- 

'  >li.  arlaiiilv,  l.iit  that  will  |„.  .,(t..r  .  •    . 

'  '"  ""  s..ii-in  law  till  .1..     •         I    r  ''      '•''''  '"•'"•u-.l. 

^''>'  '■■"'•^•'- -"' <''v nrnti, .;    /-.'wVo ;■''';   ''""^r 

ynu  w.-uldhctiu- last  one  t.Minkr.n'  '     '"'  ''"■"''•^ 

:j|Lu.eu.nJn;:;:;i-ri;t'r;;— -l^S- 
?a,t:^■;^;,;::J;;;;s,,;,:r">^■^f"-;"/^ 

wm  an;!'^  r"o  ™  :;i:i;;'..''^"""^''  ^•'^"-"  >--  father'. 


i    ! 


lii 

|i| 

Ifcl 


i8o 


The  Vidtors 


1 

I. 


'IM^I 


ii 


m  i 


"Mr.  McAllister.  I  thrnk  one  reason  my  father  took 

ex icrt  at  cappmg  one  text  with  another;  and  as  he  is 
rather  g-ven  to  texts  himself,  it  was  not  likely  he  was 
^om^  to  stand  that  from  a  student  in  his  cl.sJ.  ^cn  t 
that  student  had  been  theological,  which  vou  were  not 

u^tlX  f^^-'T  ^"'^  '^'*''  ^  ^'^"•^-  ^^'h'c^i  's  '  Sufficient 
unto  the  day  is  the  eWl  thereof ;'  we  wiH  cross  that  bridge 
when  we  come  to  it."  -^"ui^c 

«  ^"t  I  want  to  know,"  persisted  the  voung  man. 
JNow  who  is  obstmate  ?  "  -        <> 

n,^l-^°^  ^Tu  ^  ^^  '^'''■'-''-''  ;"^a^'"g  a  request  for  infor- 
if  yoT'likl  ""^  ^^''"^  ""'''"  ''''^"''''  ^°  ^'""^  "  ''  obstinate, 
.  "  Well,  if  you  will  dip  irito  the  future,  it  is  mitch  more 
impr.rtant  to  discuss  what  will  happen  when  your  will  and 
mine  come  mto  collision.  That  mi.^dit  happen  ofte«, 
u  h,  e  there  could  be  trouble  with  my  father  but  once 
VV  hat  will  hapix-n  tlien,  Bennie  ?  " 

''  Oh,  that's  easy.  I'll  give  wav  at  once.  Ask  me  an- 
other or  rather  answer  my  question.  Why  are  vou 
afraid  to  say  what  you'll  do  when  the  crisis  comes  between 
yoTir  father  and  me  ?  " 

••  Stupid  young  man.  with  all  vour  supposed  alertness 
1  have  answered  your  question,  mv  dear  boy." 

"  You  haven't,  Connie.  You  avoided  it' with  -^n  alert- 
ness quite  equal  to  my  supposed  own." 

•  "i^^?^"t  ^  ^'s^""*^^^^  certain  eventualities  in  our  mar- 
ried life.  I  gave  yo«  my  reply,  although  vou  didn't  com- 
prehend. And  now.  P.en.  T  think  vou 'have  come  far 
enough  with  me.  I  had  better  go  the  rest  .f  the  way 
alone,  for  we  are  approaching  the  town." 

"Rut  how  about  to-morrow.  Connie?  You're  surely 
not  going  to  have  me  moi>e  aroun<l  town  all  alone,  or  go 

,  ^^J^^""^  ^o'"^'^'  without  seeing  you  again.  Won't  vou 
risk  that  lake  excursion  for  my  sake?" 

"  I'm  tempted  to  risk  it  for  my  own,  Ben.  Where  are 
you  going  to  stay  to-night  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know.     At  some  dollar-a-dav  place." 

"  Suppose  you  go  out  to  the  lake  to-night  and  stop 


"  -^^^urney^  end  in  lovers'  meeting  "       i8i 

tl-  fit*,;  an  I    '''n'  T  r  '"'"  ""••     Come  on 
crowd,  well  saunLr  off  "f  '.^  "■°"''-     "  *ere  is  a 

With  an  air  of  ,mM  "'  ^^  °'  "=«'='•  anyhow/ 

hand,a„d.ad.'-V    ;'wVTern,'''^,'''['  '"^'''  °"'  "- 
bye  until  to-morrow  ••  '  ^"'  '  "  ''°  """■     So  good- 


.  Si 


III 


p 


If 


CHAPTER  II 

"  A     STRANGER     IN     THIS     CITY     HERE  '' 

"  So  this  is  New  York !     Lord,  what  a  stronghold  for 
one  poorly  equipped  man  to  attack !  " 

Monro  stood  at  the  very  front  of  the  ferry-boat,  breast 
up  against  the  extended  iron  lattice  work  'that  shut  oit 
bustling  humanity  from  the  hurrying  tide  through  whicli 
the  powerful  steamer  was  forcing  its  wav,  piling  up  heaps 
of  creamy  foam  with  its  blunt  front,  to  fall  away  in  fleecy 
lines  on  either  hand  and  disappear  under  the' pattering 
blades  of  the  paddle  wheels.     The  steamer  had  come  out 
from   between   environments   of  tall   piles,   clamped   to- 
gether in  twc   embracmg  walls,  opening  and  yawning 
toward  New  York ;  walls  that  seemed  to  have  a  strange 
flexibility,  swaying  loosely  in  the  water  when  shouldered 
by  the  broad  gunwales.    These  two  high  walls  of  knitted 
timber  presented  outstretched  arms  to  the  incoming  boat, 
giving  way  to  her  impetuosity  as  she  rushed  into  the 
embrace,  then  gradually  tightening  on  her  until  at  last 
the  craft  was  clasped  close  and  firm.  The  ferry-boat,  with 
a  continued  low,  menacing  moan  that  was  a  warning  to 
anything  floating  outside,  moved  slowlv  out  of  the  wooden 
crevasse,  and,  once  clear  of  the  timber  canvon,  the  amaz- 
in,'-  sight  of  long-stretched   New   York  burst   suddenly 
upon  him,  fronted  by  the  panorama  of  the  broad  and 
noble  river.     A  salt  breeze  new  to  his  inland  senses  came 
up  from  the  bay,  and  for  the  first  time  in  his  life  he  saw 
the  floating  majesty  of  an  ocean  liner.     The  animation 
of  the  wide  river  enthralled  him :  the  shuttle-like  ferries 
weaving  the  threads  of  human  intercourse  between  shore 
and    shore;    the    island    clusters  of   brown    barges    and 
massed  canal-boats,  with  canvas  windmills  whirlino-,  the 
domestic  effect  afloat  of  the  week's  wash  hung  on'^lines 
182 


"A  stranger  in  this  city  here"         183 

flutterinj^  like  rows  of  white  fla.crs  in  the  breeze ;  the  rail- 
way ferries,  each  with  a  train  aboard,  and  an  unseen  tuj? 
on  the  other  side,  its  invisibility  addinjj  mystery  to  the 
motion  of  the  shapeless  hulk.  lUit  most  att'ractive  of  all 
to  him  was  the  swan-like  gracefulness  of  a  passenger 
steamer,  dazzling  as  a  snow-drift  on  the  waters;  a  bride 
of  the  billows,  a  sylph  of  the  stream ;  the  rapid  paddle 
wheels  fluttering  like  the  drumming  of  a  partridge  wing, 
very  music  of  motion,  with  the  slow,  dignified,  rhvthmicai 
up-rising  and  down-falling  of  the  walkmg  beam,'  beating 
tmie  athwart  the  sky  line,  an  orchestral  symphony  afloat ; 
the  most  beautiful  creation  that  man  has  trusted  to  the 
bosom  of  the  tide,  its  airy,  cloud-vision  of  whiteness  blend- 
ing well  with  the  blue  of  sky  and  water,  possessing  all 
the  swiftness  of  the  skimming  swallow,  and  all  the  dig- 
nity of  a  gracious  lady ;  a  fair  goddess  of  the  gentle, 
lapping  wave. 

Then,  as  if  they  were  gulls  blown  in  from  sea.  the  sail- 
ing ships  came  racing  up  the  tideway  before  the  salt 
wind,  the  tall  masts  swaying  as  shore-new  sailors  sway 
who  have  not  yet  lost  their  sea  legs,  the  rising  and  dip- 
ping prows  retaining  still  in  their  heave  a  suggestion  of 
the  motion  of  the  ocean,  the  whiffs  from  the  black  hulls 
carrying  an  aroma  of  something  tarry  and  foreign. 

r>ut  the  background  of  this  stirring'  picture,  the  far-ex- 
tending, hard,  clear-cut  outline  of  the  city,  persistently 
impressed  itself  ujx)n  the  young  man's  consciousness,  and 
chilled  the  pleasure  he  felt  in  the  contemplation  of  the 
marine  spectacle  playing  out  its  unending  drama  before 
the  fixed  back  curtain.  The  city  seemed  rigid,  cruel,  un- 
relenting. The  smoke  of  sacrifice  hovered  above  it ;  every 
palpitating  steamer,  every  rushing  express  brought  new 
victims  to  its  reeking  altars.  This  great,  elongated,  civic 
cannibal  lay  motionless  and  surfeited  with  the  humanity 
it  had  consumed  and  w-as  consuming;  yet  never  replete; 
always  unsatisfied. 

There  is  nothing  more  heroic  in  the  annals  of  mankind 
than  the  adventuring  of  a  youth  against  the  fortress  of  a 
mighty  city,  himself  practically  unarmed.  He  enlists  as 
a  private  in  a  campaign  whose  death-roll  is  so  heavy  that 


1, 

;  Vii  i 

JIJ 

1; 

i 

1 

i84 


The  Victors 


l'- 


11 


" 


I  III 

m 


ir 


^iil 


no  record  can  be  kept  m  it.  thus  (liffcrin.i?  from  every  other 
battle  that  calls  for  courage  ami  endurance.  He'  is  not 
sure  even  of  his  rations ;  he  may  ask  for  bread,  and  i,'et 
only  the  stone  pavement  under  his  weary  feet.  Yet  dav 
by  day  he  enters  unfiinchin<?ly  into  the  strife,  not  knowing 
whether  he  will  scale  the  battlements  or  fall  unremem- 
bered  mto  the  trenches.  He  belongs  to  a  regiment  which 
has  no  esprit  dc  corps  and  no  commander,  where  every 
man  fights  for  his  own  hand,  and  where  there  is  no  am'- 
bulance  brigade.  For  its  own  safety  the  citv  will  bury 
him  when  he  is  dead,  but  that  is  all  he  even  rely  upon. 

The  ferry-boat  slowed  into  the  oaitstrttched  arms  of 
the  slip,  elbowing  its  way  in.  heaved  gently  to  right  or  to 
left  as  It  rubbed  shoulders  against  the  yielding  piles  on 
this  side  or  on  that.     There  was  the  clanking  lowering  of 
the  drawbridge  to  this  grim  fortress,  the  npliftino  of  the 
iron  gates,  and  then  the  sudden  surge  of  the  crowd  land- 
ward, as  if  a  moment  lost  were  gone  forever,  as  indeed 
It  IS :  and  nowhere  is  this  fact  so  energetically  realised  as 
on  the  incoming  of  a  New  York  ferry  steamer.     From 
afar    ff  Jim  had  heard  the  low  murmur'that  was  the  city's 
voice :  now  he  was  in  the  mid.st  of  the  deafening  roar  of 
it.     The  grinding  wheels  of  the  trucks  on  the  cobble- 
stones seemed  a  modern  type  of  the  Indian  Juggernaut 
rollers;  but  here  people  dodged  them,  and  did  not  fall 
with  fatalistic  apathy  underneath  them,  so  perhaps  that 
diflference  was  also  typical  and  encou/aging. 

The  excitement  and  noise  and  bustle  and  hurry  had 
rather  a  depressing  fhan  a  stimulating  influence  on  Mon- 
ro's nerves.  He  seemed  so  hopelessly  out  of  it  all.  Every- 
body else  w  ;is  rushing  toward  some  definite  task ;  at  least 
they  all  acted  as  if  they  were,  and  he  was  an  outsider. 
It  did  not  appear  possible  that  anyone  wanted  anything 
from  him  for  which  the  purchaser  was  willing  to  pay  eood 
money.  Never  before  had  he  felt  himsfelf  absolutely  of  no 
account  in  the  world— a  helpless,  floating  atom  of  no  par- 
ticular use,  and  with  no  niche  needing'  him.  His  belief 
in  the  existence  of  Cilassthrop  &  Co.  faded;  somehow  it 
had  become  incredible  that  any  particular  firm,  man- 
aged by  any  particularly  real  people,  could  have  it's  home 


u  ^ 


"A  stranger  in  this  city  here  "         185 
how  far  l,c..v„„d  the  Umies  of  cre.lcnce  was      e    houl 

did  you  drii^':,:„i";,';Lt,rjr,s ri„'?.?'-^  •™"-  ^^'- 

have  surely  never  done  it  in  this"  time  ''  '^^     ^°" 

llie  otlier  shouted  loud  with  lauffhter   a^  if  Tin,  hn  i 
said  somethinc.  more  than  orclinariU  funnv   b/t  Jlf. 
only  an  expression  of  comracleship  an  d^o^d     eli "   Z 
wa^s  evidently  as  glad  to  see  Jin.  L  Jinf  was  loI'lcoL 

^tn/^'"'''*''/'  '^■-     ^°''''   ^"^^  ^o".   drivinq-  acrost  three 
States  or  four  is  too  slow  woi'k  for  F'nt   vi 

there's  trains  running.     Xo   mv  1  ov    I    omT^p "''''" 

ante  of  yours  for  ten  clolIa;s    ,no  "e  ihan    '  ^a^    ^o^T 

:?g.^^^Kt-i^;:- 

Uid  you  come  over  on  this  I>naf  p     t  ,i-  1  v 
'<  Tii^/ '    1  4.      r  1  •  twat."     1  ciuln  t  sec  vou 


(t 


-I 


H 


f 


-4 


1 86 


The  Victors 


on  that  head.     I  was  on  the  upper  deck  all  by  myself     T 
sees  a  ladder  and  up  1  climbs  it.     '  Get  down  out  of  that  ' 
says  a  fellow  by  the  wheel  house.     '  You've  no  business 
here,    says  he.     '  1  want  to  see  the  citv  of  New  York  " 
says  I,  wid  a  brop^ue  about  double  as  thick  as  his  own 
^e  can  see  New  \  ork  well  enough  down  where  the  rist 
are,   says  he.     '  Thrue  fur  ye,'  says  I;  '  but  an  Irishman's 
place  IS  above  the  crowd.'     Wid  that  he  lauj^hed.  '  You're 
oo  fresh,  me  boy,'  he  says,  '  and  you'll  soon  jjet  you- 
head  broke  if  ye  keep  on  the  wav  vou've  started  '     '  If  i 
comes  to  breakinff  heads,'  says'  f,  '  I'm  from  the  very 
country  where  they   tend  to  that  same  job  elijjantly,  and 
he  man  that  breaks  the  head  of  Pat  ATagr.ire  has  got  to 
lift  his  stick  smarter  and  hit  quicker  than  any  fellovv  I've 
ever  met  to  this  day,'  says   I.     '  Come  in  to  the  pilot- 
house,   says  he,  'and  make  yourself  at  home,'  and  as  it 
was  too  pleasant  an  invitation  to  Ix?  discourteously  re- 
jected I  went  in.     So  I  crossed  the  river  with  the  wheel- 
man, vvhich  is  entirely  agin  the  rules  ov  the  company      I 
asked  him  down  to  have  a  dn.^k  with  me.  but  he  couldn't 
leave  the  spokes  he  was  twirling,  an'  we're  to  meet  at  a 
sajoon  he  gave  me  the  address  of  when  he  comes  off 

o  v^^'^v    r'''J'.-''°"'"  "^''^'"   ^^'^"t   f'-'eif's-     You   make 
a  I^.ew  York  friend  even  before  vou  enter  the  citv  " 

And  meet  an  old  friend  the  moment  I  put  mv  foot 
on  the  shore.  So  let  us  moisten  our  acquaintance  and 
have  a  dnnk  over  our  runnin'  agin  each  other,  axl  good 
luck  to  both  of  us 

"  I'm  not  much  on  the  drink,  but  I'll  go  vou  a  lemon- 
ade or  glass  of  pop. 
^^  "  Pop  goes  the  weasel,"  cried  Pat,  with  great  contempt. 

You  can  t  take  New  York  by  storm  on  lemonade.  No 
we  11  have  beer  or  nothing.     Come  along." 

They  went  together  across  the  front  street  and  into 
a  saloon  that  stood  at  the  comer.  The  street  was  a  most 
d.sreputablc-looking  thoroughfare,  a  howling  wilderness 
of  traffic  and  truck  loads  of  freight,  but  the  interior  of 
the  saloon  was  not  as  repulsive  as  Jim  expected  to  find  it 
in  such  a  locality.     There  was  a  sprinkling  of  sawdust 


"A  stranger  in  this  city  here  "  187 

on  the  floor.     The  counter  that  ran  across  the  room  wis 
of  pohshed  mahoj^^any.  elaborateh  decorated  with       ndd- 

?ee  ham    sV  '^''  T?''  ^^'''■^./"■"•-""^'"t-'l  with  artistic 

mirror  was  a  sfhstenni-  array  of  many-coloured  trlasses 

Zc^S^""(/^"'^'''  ^V'^^^  ^^■'^•'  •^'^^'^  --'    --"S 
ceoiX  ■'  "'"'  m"''  ^^^  ''^^'  ^^''^''  ^^^^^"'1  ^  ''^^-^'"l^l^e  re- 

vh  d  was  fillo  I  "VT';'^'''.^^''^''  ^^^-^  <^o"ipartn.ents.  one  of 
J\n  cli  v\as  filled  with  l)roken  crackers  and  the  other  with 
httle  squares  of  cheese.     To  this   refectio     A^amtirrat 

clKcks  ucre  clean   shaven,  hut  who  wore  on  his  lin  a 
heavy  moustache  stood  hchind  the  bar  in  h!s  shirt  sleeves 

whitene^t'  ""  '"''  '"'  '"  ^'"^^  ^^^''-'^^'-^  ^^^  ^^  ^I-tL- 

■  ^^"^'jiow  are  you  the  dav.  Mike  Doolan?  "  cried  Ma- 
Ruire.  with  effusive  friendliness. 

''  I  can't  complain,"  said  Mike  Ir.okimr  hard  at  him 

nrof^:";;""^  h"'  ^'""  '"^•'-f^-"— cH-met-^emalitv  «;  is 
profession.     He  s:reeted  so  many  dnuufr  the  day  who 

knew  him,  but  whom  he  couhl  not  himself  recogTiise  S 

o^htv"  ''mS^"^h""°'   '  f>"^'"^'   stran,^ef  was    no 
odd.tv  M,ke.  this  IS  my   friend,  Jim   Monro,   who's 

just  this  moment  come  to  New  York  " 

rZl^^^'^l^V"'.^  ■  ""•  ^^'-  ^^""'■"•"  «^''l  the  bartender 
reaching  his  hand  across  the  counter  and  ^-rasping  tha 
of      e  stranger    Jim  was  so  dumfoun-^.d  at  his  comrade's 
impudence,  and  so  much  amazed  at  iiis  glibness  in  call- 
ing the  bartender  by  name,  wondering  how  he  discovered 
.that  he  could  only  mumble  inarticulate  recognition  o 
the  bar-man  s  courtesy.     The  latter  had  an  accent  that  in- 
dicated his  nationality,  but  no  brogue,  uhile  Pat's  brotrue 
was  now  as  pronoiinced  as  if  he  had  landed  that  morning 
on  a  hner  from  Queenstown,  rather  than  from  a  ferrv- 
boat  sailing  out  of  Jersey.  - 

^^^  I  see  fairly  that  yoii  don't  recollect  me  at  all,"  said 

"  I  recollect  vour  face  well  enough,  but  I  don't  just  call 
to  mind  your  na  .le.  However,  I'll  think  of  it  the  minute 
you  re  gone.     I  always  do." 


i88 


The  Victors 


I    i 


"Oh.  that's  like  enoupl,.     I'm  Pat  Maijuirc." 

"Uf  course  you  are.     l-roni  the  17th  ward ;  or  is  it  the 

"From   both   I've   hcai   this   lonff  time.     You   know 
Malloy,  surely. 

''Tile  pilot  on  the  ferry?     I  know  him  well." 

"  I'm  an  old  friend  of  his,  and  he's  to  meet  me  here  as 
soon  as  his  trick  at  the  wheel  is  over  for  the  day." 

]]  Any  friend  of  Malloy 's  welcome  at  this  bar!" 
I  hope,  by  and  by,  to  be  welcome  on  my  own  ac- 
count. ■' 

"  Yell  be  that,"  said  the  barkeeper,  with  a  nod  of  ad- 
miration. . 

,^  ^S'  l^^^^  ^  ^^^^  ^V^tCQ,  and  what  will  ve  drink  ver- 
self,  Mike  ?  '  '  - 

»  ''  ^'"1  ""t  drinkinsr  these  days."  returned  the  bartender 

but  I  wouldn't  mind  a  smoke." 

"  Then  you're  foolish  if  you  don't  choose  the  best  smoke 
you  have  in  your  pile  of  bo.xes.  A  man  can't  be  too  care- 
ful when  he's  pickinjj  for  himself." 

Ma.truire.  with  the  air  of  the  president  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Flank,  threw  on  the  counter  a  ten-dollar  bill,  which 
the  barkeeper,  automatically  running'  between  finger  and 
thumb  to  test  its  texture.  :iung  into  the  till  and  counted 
out  the  change.  He  clipped  off  the  pointed  end  of  the 
ci.,ar  at  a  n.achine  which  stood  on  the  counter,  then  struck 
a  match.  Maguire  lifted  the  foaming  glass  to  his  lips 
and  saifl.  "  Here's  luck  to  us  all."  Jim  had  tasted  beer 
before,  and  this  lager  was  cool  and  refreshing. 

"  Well,  Jim,  where  are  you  going  to  strike  for  first? ' 
asked  Pat,  setting  his  glass  on  the  counter. 

"  I  don't  qu''te  know.  I  was  thinking  of  taking  a 
walk  up  and  down  Broadwav,  if  I  can  find  it,"  replied 
Jim. 

••  It's  easily  found."  put  in  the  barkeeper.  "  Ye  can't 
cross  the  island  without  crossing  nroadwav." 

"()h,  that's  all  right,"  cried  Patrick. '  nonchalantly 
"  the  hoy  has  som  hing  on  that  he  don't  want  me  to  know 
about.  He  always  was  a  close  fellow,  was  Jim.  and  never 
took  much  of  a  shine  to  me,  but  there's  no  man  on  earth 


'•  A  stranger  in  this  city  here  "         189 
I  would  rather  do  a  pood  turn  to  than  Mr.  Monro     Now 

"  T  InV    •    I.""-    J"'*  remember  that  in  New  York  " 
I  don  t  see  the  apphcation  of  your  observation    Ma- 

^''  Wel^the  ?n'r"r"^  ""'  '"^  "^'^^  *"^  -  the  iL?)  •• 
hner  1!  Vnfu  f  P^'^'^*'""  '«  .fi^<^"eral.  If  ye  can't  he  the 
hJ^J;  V  I  ,''"°'^  y^""  '"  ^h^  business  by  lifting  uo  ver 
bazoo  Nobody  would  take  any  notice  of  the  tue  if  1[ 
""'"•  vv-n"'  '^?  '^"''a-l^^lloo  of  her  whistle!"  ^ 
.  VV  111  you  have  another  drink  ?  "  asked  Monro  chn.m 
in^   he  subject  and  abandoning?  the  simiSe  '  ^' 

"  Wn^^Ju  ^^"'^^"^^"  that  never  refuses  anything." 
..  VV  hat  wdl  you  have.  Mr.  Doolan  ?  "  ^ 

1 11  just  wet  my  mouth  after  this  cigar  " 
And  so  they  had  beer  all  round,  and  then  Jim  took 

MikeDooll^wh^n"'''  ^"^  ^'r'  '  ^'"^^  ^"'■th^^  talk  with 
iMike  Uoolan.  who  seems  a  decent  .sort  of  chap,  and  mavbe 

Ye  ""iScnr.'l  '"^  ""'  ^"°  ^'^^^  "'"  "^^  w'orth  having 
Ve  noticed  I  got  his  name  on  mv  tongue's  end  from  Mal- 
loy  on  the  ferry-boat.  ItV,  all  very  well,  Jim  toTe  W^h 
and  m,ghty  and  depend  on  one's 'self,  but  There's  mu?h 
to  be  picked  up  in  an  amicable  conversation  if  ye^no 
above  instruction."  '       ^      "°t 

vZ  L^'°''^  >«"/«n't  think  I  am  high  and  mighty.  I  give 
you  my  word  I  was  anything  but  depending  strongh  on 
myself  when  you  niet  me,  and  I'm  sure  you  sf  v  I  walve^y 
glad  to  fall  in  with  you."  ^ 

"No,  T  was  referring  to  myself  entirely,  and  I  was 
just  as  glad  to  see  you.  Now  I  have  no  address ;  I'm  It 
Maguire  of  Nowhere-at-all,  but  if  you  drop  into    h  s 


U-i 


Lii' 


•  Tn 


"1'' 


Hi 


I  I 


J    !    !     - 

i 

» 

! 

i 

u 

1 

1 

190 


The  Victors 


saloon  when  you  R:ct  settled  vou'll  likelv  hear  of  me  and 
I'll  do  the  same  by  you.  vVho  can  tell  hut  mayhe  we 
can  helj)  each  other:  and  if  I  can  there'll  he  nobody 
gladder  than  me.  as  I've  said  once  or  twice  before.  It's 
a  big  city,  and  we're  two  pretty  small  men,  Jim— at  the 
present  time  of  speaking." 
"Thank  you.  I'll  drop  in." 
And  wiicre's  the  other  fellow  ?  I  lave  you  shook 
him  ?     It  never  sccnicd  to  me  he  amounted  to  much." 

"  He's  coming  tiirough  to  New  York  in  a  day  or  two. 
I  thmk,  perhaps,  you  underrate  him.  Yoi-  don't  know 
hmi  as  well  as  I  do." 

"True  for  ye.  true  for  ye,  and  one  shouldn't  be  too  spry 
m  siznig  anybody  up.  Oh,  well,  when  he  comes  ye'll  have 
company  at  least,  and  that's  ahvavs  something." 

So  they  shook  hands  again  and  parted,  Pat  returning 
to  the  saloon  and  Jim  striding  east  along  the  side  street 
to  find  Broadway.  Whether  it  was  the  effect  of  the 
meeting  or  the  beer,  he  might  have  been  puzzled  to  decide, 
but  he  went  up  the  street  a  man  more  confident  in  him- 
self and  his  destiny  than  when  he  landed. 

There  was  no  mistaking  Broadwav,  once  he  came  to  it. 
Again  the  Reeling  of  non-importance  came  over  him,  but 
he  thought  with  a  smile  that  Maguirc  would  probably  re- 
gard the  busy  street  with  a  patronising  air,  looking  on  it 
merely  as  an  avenue  leading  to  his  own  ultimate  success. 
Monro  wandered  aimlessly,  jostled  by  the  crowd,  his  ears 
tilled  with  the  interminable  roar,  recalling  the  story  of  the 
countryman  who  stood  for  hours  at  a  corner  "of  this 
thoroughfare,  waiting  for  the  procession  to  end,  wonder- 
ing what  circus  it  belonged  to,  and  commenting  on  the 
infrequency  of  ine  brass  bands. 

At  last  he  began  to  take  notice  of  the  numbers  over  the 
doors,  and  then  referred  to  the  card  Mitchell  had  given 
hini.  It  was  long  before  he  came  to  the  address  on  the 
card,  and  the  building,  when  he  found  it,  was  on  the  op- 
posite side  of  the  street.  He  stood  at  the  edge  of  the  curb 
and  looked  across  at  it,  cogitating  on  what  it  might  con- 
tain for  him.  If  was  a  large,  tall  structure,  and,  to  judge 
by  the  signs,  it  housed  the  offices  of  many  companies. 


"A  stranger  in  this  city  here"        191 

nam     but  he  roricctcd  that  it  Mitchell  wn.te  a  letter    it 
could  not  have  come  to  Xevv  York  cjuicker  than     t  di 
hnnsel     and  that  it  was  perhaps  betted  to  postpone  a  vi  it* 
o  (dass  hrop  untd  next  nlornin^^  so  with  that  he  a^a  n 

searched  the  side  stnets  on  the  outlook  for  cheapness 
and  fina  ly.  after  a  study  of  a  card  of  prices  at  the  door' 

frnt'atr'.'r, .'".'•  ^'r-  ''""'■'"  the  afternoon 
hi^a  r.n  ^^'V^'-''^''^''-'^-^"'!  a  later  hour  saw  hin,  ^az- 
"!«:  at  the  incominR:  sh.ppmjr  near  Castle  Garden  •  then  it 
was  time  to  look  out  a  pK.ce  to  sleep. 

At  9.30  nexc  morninfr  he  presented  himself  at  the  office 
of  Ulassthrop  &  Co.     He  entered  an  extensive  room  oc 
cuD.ed  by  numerous  busy  clerks.     With  a  sinking  heart 
he  gave  h..s  name  to  the  man  who  inquired  for  ^t    and 
was  much  cheered  by  the  reply.  ' 

'•Oh,   yes;    iMr.    ( dassthrop   was   expecting   vou    uiis 
mormng.     You  are  to  wait  for  him.     hI;  willT^oibe  h^^e 

With  that  the  clerk  opened  a  do„r  which  led  to  a  room 

did.  an<  uas  left  the  sole  occupant.     The  room  was  larije 
am    had  two  windows,  each  composed  of  two  sheets  of 
plate  glass.on  which  he  saw  reversal  the  name  ofthe  firm 
There  were  three  close.l  roller-top  desks  in  light  oak   a H 

saf'' whhTh^'"'  ''"'  r"^'"'  T'"  ^^'^-^  ^  huge ^Lk  shiny 
safe,  with  the  name  of  its  makers  in  gaviv  coloured  let- 

words'-nrH^'^'L'"  ^'"-'-.^l-o-atic  painting   t^e 
words     Cdassthrop  &  Company."     Somehow  this  seemed 

neciaiiv  m.'T^r'^'^  '''"  '""•  ''  '^  ''''  ^^^  had  been  es^ 
pecially  made  for  its  present  position,  as  perhaps  it  was 

The  round  nickel-plated  knob  glared  at  h  m  Hke  the  one 
white  eye  in  the  dark  face  of  a  fabled  giant 
But  what  most  attracted  his  attention  was  the  fact  that 

tJ^Thfr  1  \  "i""^'  ""''''''  ''''  '^'^  ^"d  Inside '"el    o 
he  three  desks,  hung  a  taut  thick  rope,  fastened  to  a  ring 
m  the  floor  and  a  ring  in  the  ceiling  in  each  instance" 


%?" 


192 


The  V^ictors 


b 


Around  the  room,  brait-d  out  a  foot  or  more  from  the 
o.rincf.  was  a  shniiiiir  Imiss  r...!.  likt-  a  rod  from  which 
pictures  are  suspended,  hut  here  to(.  tar  from  the  wall 
and  too  thick  to  he  useo  lor  sucii  a  purpose.  In<leed.  its 
use  was  plain  enouKli.  for  over  the  hrst  de^k  tliere  rested 
on  the  nxl  a  small  two-wheeled  irollev.  from  which  de- 
|)ended  a  rope,  at  whose  loose  eii.'l  hun -  a  padded 
leathern  h)op.  as  if  tlie  occupant  of  the  room  were  in  the 
hahit  of  practising'  ^'vmnastit      .vir  the  three  desks. 

Monro  had  hardly  cea.sed  t.        -uder  at  this  extraordi- 
nary equipment  ir.  a  business  office     hen  he  heard  a  sli^dit 
rattle  m  the  Vale  lock  of  the  outer  dcH.r.  which  he  noticed 
as  he  passed  it  ha<l  the  wohl  "private"  painted  on  its 
lar^e  pane  of  opa.pie  .i,'round  j,dass.  and  the  door  was  tlunc 
open.     There  entered  •  stout  man  in  a  rouno  hat.  carry- 
mK  tn  his  arms  another  man.  who  had  on  hi.  head  a 
tall,  exquisitely  >,'l<)ssy  silk  hat.  which  somehow  ^Mve  an 
incon«:ruour  appearance  t.)  the  pair.     The  hodv  of  the 
nian  in  the  other's  arms  was  stalwart,  and  the  head  was 
of  .Napoleonic  massivencss.  but  half  of  the  man  was  miss- 
ing; he  had  no  lejjs.     The  attendant  'placed  his  burden  on 
an  office  chair,  then  quickly  unlocke.l    iud  rolled  back  the 
hds  of  the  three  office  desks,  disp'avinir  tlu-  usual  arrav 
of  document-filled  pitrconholes.     He  tlien  took  his  mas- 
ters shimnjir  hat  and  liuni:  it  on  a  ])eLr   afterward  easily 
hhm^  its  owner  and  placinir  hini  on  tiie  polished  table 
of  the  first  desk.     Then  he  sto(   1  back,  as  if  awaiting 
further  orders.     The  cripple  spoke  with  sharp  decision  in 
his  voice. 

"  Legs.  I  shall  not  want  the  brougham  again  this  fore- 
noon.   Have  it  at  the  door  i)romptlv  at  one  o'clock." 

"  \'ery  gofxl,  sir."  answered  the  man  addressed  as 
"  Legs."  touching  the  rim  of  his  hat  wiili  his  finger  and 
withdra.ving  silently. 

"You  are  Mr.  Monro,  1  take  it?'' 

''  Yes.  sir." 

"  My  name's  l^dassthrop.  Mitchell  wrote  me  about 
you.     \Vhen  did  you  come  in  ?  " 

*'  Yesterday." 

"  Western  man  ?  " 


A  str; 


itik'cr  in  tliis  city  here 


193 


» I's.  sir. 
"  Kdiii-aiid  ?  •• 

^^^^   li  m.     What  .I..I  tl.cy  tc-ach  yo„  ?     Anything'  practi- 

"  The  usual  curse.     I  can  rca.l  and  vrite  ond  ciphc-r  " 
Know  anything;  uf  luathcniatics  ?  "  ' 

"  A   httle." 

"Trijcon. mil-try  and  that  sort  of  thinj,''" 

"I  don't  kn..w  that  I  wouM  slniu'  in  an  cxaminatiun 
on  hi<,duT  trij;,'onoinc'tr\  .••  "niaimn 

••Mitchell  tol.l  me  very  little  ahout  vou.  so  I  have  to 
fixl  out  for  myseh.     Just  hrin.^^  here  that  instrun^n 
tho  corner  I.ehu.d  you.     Do  v'>u  know  what  it  is""' 

Monro  ^r^.tt.njr  i,,,,  .„,,,  f^oni  the  corner  a  hrass  mech- 
nmsn,    uhK-h  had  three  stout  le^s.  with  metal  poims  at 

c  ends  of  tnetn.     "I  d.-n't  know  exactlv.  hut  it'  looks 
mc  Ike  a  surveying  nistnmv,n.     A  se.xtant.  perhaps." 

♦.,     V  i'!  '''  '"'■'■''•V"'^'  instrument,  hut  I  should  call  it  a 
tneoUolite.     \.)u  know  nothin^r  ahout  it,  then  "^  " 
No.  sir." 

"  Put  it  hack." 

Monro  returned  the  theodolite  to  its  corner.  Glassthron 

?rom  1  "'t  "ff  T''  ^'"T"'  '^''  ^'^'^'^'^^  '<'"'^  ''ancinj 
et  rt  '  i  ;  ■•  •/''■'^'  "';''''  '"^''>'  ^'I'parentlv  wititout  an 
Ulor  .  sailed  auily  over  his  own  desk  aiid  the  next  c(Mn- 
in^'  down  on  the  third  as  Iij,d,tlv  as  a  feather.  Ho  took 
from  a  p.-eonhole  a  hlack  leather-covered  thin  hook 
and  returned  to  h.s  own  <lesk  in  the  same  wav.  as  if 
wafted  hack  and  forth  hv  matric. 

"  ''"Ij'-r^'-".  lie  said,  handinp:  Afonro  the  flexil.le  vol- 
ume, that  s  Trautwine's  '  Survevin^r/  Studv  it  when- 
ever you  have  leisure.  It  will  j^ive  you  some  hints  ahout 
the  use  of  that  instrument  in  the  C(;rner  " 

Monro  slipped  the  thin  treatise  into  his  pocket 
1  understood  from  Mitchell's  letter  that  there  were 

two  of   vou  ?  »»i-ic 

"  ye^-  sir.  McAllister,  my  comrade,  is  citiained  in  the 
VVest.  hut  will  he  here  in  a  few  davs 


What  did  Mitchell  lead  you  to  expect? 


M 


h 


1'^   ! 


II  ^ 


.V 


I!?! 


iith 


194 


The  Victors 


"  Nothincj." 

"  Made  no  mention  of  salary'" 
"  No,  sir." 

"Quite  rij,rht  Now  I  propose  to  grive  vou  a  trial, 
though  without  buKhng  mysdf  to  anvthint,^  and  for  a 
begmnnig  I  offer  you  five  dollars  a  day.  Is  that  satis- 
factory ? 

"  More  than  satisfactory,  sir." 

"  But,  mind,  you  pay  vour  own  expenses.  That  is  ex- 
cept travelling.  If  I  order  you  to  go  from  here  to  Denver 
of  course  T  pay  the  railroad  fares,  but  that's  all  I  won't 
have  any  bills  coming  in  on  me  for  extras  or  six-dollar-a- 
(lay  hotels.  \  ou  may  go  to  a  .six-dollar-a-dav  hotel  if  vou 
want  to,  but  you  must  pay  the  bill  yourself.'  You  under- 
stand that '  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Very  well.  The  theodolite  matter  is  hardly  ripe  vet 
so  you  will  have  all  the  more  time  for  studying  tlie  'oe- 
culianties  of  the  machine."  ' 

"  ^lay  I  suggest,  sir,  that  if  anything  is  to  depend  on 
the  surveying  I  am  to  do.  it  would  he  better  to  get  an 
expert,  for  I  doubt  if  I  can  acquire  skill  enough  even  bv 
con.stant  study  of  this  bo(  \-  to—" 

^    "  E-er  heard  the   story  of   Stephen  Cerrard  and  his 
.11  •  d     lan? 

I  I  di  I't  know  that  I  have." 

"  Wtli,  the  man  came  to  him  for  a  job,  and  Gerrard  set 
h.m  at  throwing  a  pile  of  stones  over  a  wall.  When  that 
was  done  the  ir.an  came  back  and  asked  what  else  there 
was  to  do  about  the  place.  ■  Thro  the  stones  back 
again,  said  Gerrard.  And  thus  it  went  on  all  day  part 
of  the  time  the  stones  going  one  way,  and  part  of  the 
time  the  other.  The  man  made  no  comment-  if  it 
seemed  to  him  a  foolish  business  ho  never  let  on.  Gerrard 
hired  li,m,  and  I  believe  he  ultimately  became  manager 
of  the  Gerrard  business."  '  ^ 

']  You  mean  that  T  am  to  make  no  suggestions'" 
Make  em  if  you  like,  but  I  love  a  man  who  asks  no 
questions, who  does  exactly  what  he  is  ordered  to  do." 
All  right,  Mr.  Glassthrop." 


"  ^  stranger  in  tliis  city  here  "        195 

u  UK  usual,  and  to  him,  of  course,  it  was  not     If  pnv  on . 

lact  that  he  was  legless  he  would  possibly  have  been  snr 
;,?!;   ^°'/  "'"'"T^-  ''^"''-  ^v'lile  admitt  n^  he  trmh  of 

nohv!  l^T'-  •^'^"'^^  ^'''^'^^'  ^^'""'•^''-  whv  the  other  had 
not-ced  a  deprivation  that  was  never  present  in  hfs  own 

thif  wa'v  an!l  7l,'^"  f''  '^-  T'"'''^'''  ^'^^  P^^^-'^^^l  ^nob 

hIi?  ^P^"^'^^   '^""   ''"^'.   closed   and   locked   the  safe 

.n-i!:^  '""^  ?'"^,  ^■°"'"  ""'"''^  -'""•  spnncring  to  his  feet 

of  U,=  ™,„  an.,  „aU  JeVrJ,,",- ^ ^^^^a^  ^I'.^r: 
••  I  don't  need  any  help,  thank  vou."  he  said    and  the 

cIsTthroTtoor^r"'."'  ''''  ^'^'^'y  -'  tlfe  r'einak  " 
uiassthrop  took  a  key  from  one  of  the  little  drawers 

before  h.m   and  opening.  ,he  japanned  box.  lifted  from 

Jl^t!"f'^'^'^rT^'  ^•'"■'-^^"O--  each  held  to^She  Tit 
an  elastic  band.     These  he  handed  to  vounc.  Vfonro 

This  has  already  been  counted,  but  I 'liKvavs  "ike  to 
be  loub  y  sure.     Just  take  a  seat  at  the  further  desk    vou 
will  find  paper,  pen  and  ink  there :  go  over  the  er;ad 
a.ges.  note  down  the  denominations  ^and  the  amount  of 
each  package  and  add  up  the  total  -  °^ 

that  Gla-'-Hr''  '^  f''''^^^^''-^-    ^'^  was  vaguelv  consciou. 
that  Gla.-,.-.throp  had  nu.g  an  electric  bell,  and  in  answer 


■II 


i()6 


The  Victors 


t 


J 


f   5, 


r 


i  • 


, 

It' 

It! 

to  his  summons  a  c'erk  came  in  with  a  mass  of  letters, 
opened  and  unopened.  These  were  rapidly  dealt  with, 
replies  were  taken  down  in  shorthand  and  before  Jim 
had  finished  his  own  task  the  clerk  had  disappeared. 

"  Well,  what  do  you  make  of  it  ?  " 

"  There  are  exactly  ten  thousand  dollars  here." 

"  That's  all  ri^ht.  Now  jj^o  into  the  other  room,  brinj^ 
a  lar£je  stout  envelope  that  will  hold  the  amount,  some 
matches,  scaling  wax  and  a  candle,  (live  me  the  pack- 
aijes." 

When  Monro  was  absent,  Glassthrop  deftly  substituted 
the  bun'.-hes  he  held  for  a  similar  lot.  wiiich  also  appar- 
ently consisted  of  eood  money  in  various  denominations. 
The  lid  of  the  box  was  closed  down  on  the  aj;j:jreo^ation 
that  Monro  had  so  carefully  cotmtod.  and  when  the  youn<^ 
man  returned  with  the  envelope  and  the  sealin.cf  wax  he 
found  his  new  master  sittin,£j  just  as  he  had  left  him. 

"  Put  these  bills  carefully  into  that  envelope." 

When  this  was  done  Glassthrop  himself  moistened  the 
flap  and  fastened  it  down ;  then,  with  a  pen,  wrote  the 
name  of  the  firm  rapidly  across  the  back  of  the  envelope, 
the  ink  spreading;  when  it  came  to  the  wet  overlay.  Rub- 
bins'  the  blottin.e:  paper  over  the  siijnature.  he  handed 
the  envelope  to  the  waitin,Q:  Monro. 

"  You'll  find  a  hank  of  red  tape  in  the  other  desk.  Just 
tie  this  up  neatly  and  brinjj  it  to  me." 

As  the  tyingf  went  on  Glassthrop  struck  a  match  and  lit 
the  candle.  Then  he  took  the  packa:.,^e,  held  the  blazin-:; 
wax  over  it  at  the  junction  of  the  tapes,  unt-'  a  lartre 
blob  of  red  wax  covered  the  crossinj?,  and  finala  pressed 
on  its  semi-fluid  surface  a  seal  which  hunt,'  at  his  watch 
chain.  Treatin"-  the  other  side  of  the  packatje  in  the 
same  way.  and  examining-  the  result  minutely,  findinjj 
it  secured  to  his  satisfaction,  he  said  to  Monro : 

"  In  Ihe  left-hand  bottom  drawer  of  the  middle  desk 
you  will  find  a  pocketbook  which  will,  I  think,  hold  this 
envelope  and  its  contents.    Just  brin^r  it  to  me.  will  you?  " 

Into  this  pocketbook  he  squeezed  the  packet. 

"  Better  tie  the  whole  thin^-  with  tape,  then  there  will 
be  no  chance  of  it   dropping  out.     Now,   listen   atten- 


A  St 


ranger  in  tliis  city  here 


197 


tively   to   nie,      he    said,    when    the   operation    was    fin- 
■shcrl         \ou    will    put    this    packet    ,nto    vour    inside 
pocket,  an,    you  will  j,niard  it  fa.thfullv.  un'til  the  nian 
It    IS  nitended    for  calls    for  it.     You    will    buy  a    ticket 
for   the   ni^du    train    to    M.uitreal.    and  I  need    not   ad- 
vise you  to  take  no  one  into  your  confidence  with  re-ard 
to  the  frei,t,dit  you  carry.     Secure  a  sleepinjj  berth  ;'that 
will,  perhaps,  be  safest,  for  you  mi-ht  drop  oflf  into  a 
dose  in  an  ordinary  car  on  a  Ion-  nii^ht's  run.  but  do  not 
undress.     Lie  dowi>  in  vour  clothes,  and  I  advise  vou  to 
l)f  certain  that  this  packet  is  underneath  vou.  in  'which 
case  a  thief  is  not  likely  to  )-et  it  ..vay  without  wakinc; 
you.     I.ut  the  main  point  is  to  keep  vour  mission  secret 
\\  hen  you  arrive  at  V  -treal.  ^o  to'anv  hotel  vou  like, 
hev  wi  1  char.ire  you      ree  dollar.s  and  a  half  k  dav  at 
the  U  indsor.  so  perhaps  you  will  choose  a  cheaper  place 
but  I  shouldn  t  advise  you  to  stay  at  too  cheap  a  tavern" 
\\  hen  you  are  located,  teleoTai)h  me  vour  address.     You 
may  have  to  stay  there  a  day,  or  a  week,  or  a  month-  [ 
can  t  tell  at  present  just  how  lon.cr,  but  vou  will  have  the 
consolation  of  knowing  that  your  pay  is'goin^  on.    Some 
time  before  the  month  is  out  a  man  will  call  on  vou  an.l 
a.sk  for  thi>  packet.    You  will  demand  an  order,'  and  he 
will  hand  to  you  one-half  of  this  document." 

Air.  Glassthrop  held  up  a  letter  written  on  the  office 
paper  of  the  firm,  which  he  tore  carefully  into  two 
pieces  the  division  zicrzafj^inp  across  the  sheet. 
_  If  the  piece  presented  to  vou  exactly  matches  the  sec- 
tion in  your  possession,  you  will  ,c,r,ve  h'im  the  packet  and 
take  his  receipt  for  it.  There  your  duty  ends,  and  vou 
may  return  at  once  to  New  York.  But  I  expect  that 
you  will  not  allow  you-,elf  to  be  buncoed  out  of  so 
valuable  a  parcel.  You  have  an  inside  pocket,  I  sup- 
pose? r-  .  1 

<t  ■\r„  •      •» 

1  es,  sir. 
"  Then  here  you  are.  Xow  button  up  vour  coat.  Ah. 
It  makes  rather  a  i)ei-ceptil)le  lump  on  the  outside-  still 
that  can't  be  helped.  Here  is  vour  half  of  the  order.  You 
had  better  keep  that  in  the  purse  in  your  trousers 
pocket." 


Ill 


I'iii 


H  ;  i 


198 


The  Victors 


Jill  I 


Monro  followed  directions  without  a  word,  and  stood 
ready  for  further  instruciions,  if  there  were  anv. 

"  Here  is  a  pay  slip,  which  they  will  cash  for  you  at  the 
outer  office,"  continued  (ilassthro]),  after  a  pause.  "  This 
^'ives  you  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  or  thirty  days' 
pay.     Will  that  be  enough,  do  you  think?  " 

"  Anii)le,  if  I  have  not  to  stay  longer  than  a  month." 

Glassthrop  looked  keenly  ..t  him.  His  eyes  had  a  keen, 
penetrating  quality,  and  it  occurred  to  ^Tonro  that  this 
would  he  a  very  difficult  man  from  whom  to  conceal  a 
guilty  secret.  Jim  had  entirely  forgotten  that  Glassthrop 
had  no  legs ;  he  found  himself  dominated  bv  that  search- 
ing gaze. 

"  Anything  you  don't  understand  about  your  com- 
mission?" 

"  No.  sir.  If  T  should  be  in  doubt  after  I  reach  Mon- 
treal. I  shall  telegraph  you  and  await  your  answer  before 
I  act. 

"  Do  so.  Vou  may  send  in  a  bill  for  vour  railway  fare 
and  for  the  sleeping  car.    Good-morning." 

Jim  let  himself  out  of  the  self-locking  door,  a  quick 
gesture  from  Glassthrop  directing  him,  and  left  the  place 
to  the  accompaniment  of  the  peremptory-  ringing  of  the 
electric  bell  summoning  a  clerk.  As  he  entered  the  outer 
office  to  cash  his  pay-check  he  noticed  a  long  row  of  men 
sittmg  on  a  bench  by  the  wall,  each  evidently  waiting  his 
turn  to  see  Glassthrop.  and  he  smiled  to  think  that  on  his 
second  day  in  New  York  he  had  kept  important  people  in 
the  ante-chamber. 

( )nce  out  on  the  pavement  he  no  longer  dawdled  as  he 
had  done  before,  but  walked  as  rapidly  and  definitely  as 
any  he  met,  and  no  one  passed  him.  He  remembered  that 
the  railway  ticket  offices  were  further  down  P.roadway. 
and  thither  he  set  his  face,  imagining  he  had  ten  thou- 
sand dollars  in  his  inner  pocket. 


saamrA.'^. 


CHAPTER  III 

"  MARK    Ills  KIKST   AITUOACII   HF.FORK    MY   LADY  " 

Monro  experienced  no  difficulty  in  purchasinc^  a  rail- 
way ticket  to  Montreal,  but  he  found  tliat  ilcepm^  bertl  s 
were  rather  at  a  premium.    The  hot  weather  vlas  drivin  ' 

healttrai:  •  ''^'  '^""S  '''''•  ^"'^  ''''>■  -"-  «^'"'HnS 
vTndtnth'r'F  r^'  ,  ^'^'^"^^'^  '^''  Adirondacks  and  be- 
yond to  the  land  of  co.,lness.  Mountain,  lake  and  forest 
were  beckomn^r  to  the  parched  dweller  in  Xew  Yo'k 
and  he  call  was  beniff  answered  so  universally  that  Jim 
had  to  content  himself  with  an  upper  berth,  which  is  t^ 

St  Eo  H,"  ""^"^^^^'-  -^^'"^  place  for  a  stuf^v 
n  t/  for  ,  ?  ^'°"?^  '"^"  '^  promised  to  be  a  haven  of 
rest,  for  he  liad  not  slept  in  the  ordinary  car  comin^r  from 

excitSn"  f'tT  '^r  ""'1  '^  ^'^"^^  ^"'■'<'  what  wSh  the 
niffht.  had  been  httle  better,  so  far  as  slumber  was  con- 
cerned, than  the  dreary  hours  spent  on  the  train 

theZ'iT^'i'^  ''"'f'-''  ^'  ^'^  '''^'-  ^I^""-"  determined,  for 
the  safety  of  his  treasure,  to  ad<l  one  more  widc-av^ake 
mgh  to  those  which  had  ^one  before.  He  Cw  tTere 
was  httle  chance  that  any  one  could  surmise  he  carS 
such    a  sum    of  money,  but    he  was    resolved  LTna'r 

lor  tne  task  largely  because  no  one  would  >- aspect  him 
of  concea  ing  wealth  in  a  coat  which  was  none  oo  new  or 
fashionable.  Once  aboard  the  train  an<l  sure  of  l"s  car 
he  went  into  the  smoking-room,  seating  himse  f  in  a 
luxurious  armchair  by  the  open  window."  He  va  elrlv 
and  consequently  had  a  choice  of  places.  Soon  the  room 
hlled,  and.  when  the  train  started,  several  we  e  tanS 
leaning  against  the  walls  of  panelled  '.oo-any  f 
smokmg-room  on  a  sleeping  car  is  an  sting  spot 

199 


ii- 


'^^Vm77i^ 


200 


The  Victors 


t 


11 

I  f 
!1 


;   fi  i 


lU  ^ 


Tlu-rc  IS  little  stiflFnoss  in  its  social  atiiDspIuTc.  lioux-ver 
thick  the  air  may  he  with  the  fmiies  of  tohacc...     I  lai)itiies 
of  the  smokniK^  o.nipartinenl  are  iisiiallv  men  who  have 
travelled  much  and  made  the  most  of  li'fe  as  ihev  found 
It      Acciuaintances  are  as  speedilv   formed  as   t'hev   are 
afterward  ahruptly   terminated    without    a   thoudit'    uul 
stnkinj;  cxpenentes  are  related,  one  storv  ralliui,^ 'forth 
anotiier     Jim  was  a  -ood  listener,  even  if  littlein  evi- 
dence when  the  talk  was  most  prolific,  and  what  he  heard 
interested  lum      Xow  and  then  the  ne.^^ro  porter  came  in 
an,   anmninced  to  some  man  that  his  herth  was  made  up 
and  the  individual  selected  rose,  vawncd.  hade  the  com- 
pany ffood-m.trht  ..nd  disapi,eared.     At  last  Monro  found 
himself  alone,  as  he  had  been  at  the  he-innini,r.    The  por- 
ter now  put  in  a  final  appearance  and  marie' some  hustle 
about  cleamn.ir  "P  the  room.    This  was  the  ncLao's  sleep- 
in.^-  place,  althouffu   Monro  did  not  know  that,  and  the 
coloured  person  evidently  thousfht  it  was  extravairance  for 
a  man  to  i)ay  for  a  herth  and  not  occupy  it     " 

"  ^ours  IS  upper  five,  1  think,  sah."  vei    ured  the  por- 
ter at  last.  * 
'•  Yes." 

"It's  all  rcaciv.  sah.  I'll  call  you  in  the  morning  m 
plenty  of  lime.  sah. 

"thanks."  So.  acceptinq;  this  broad  hint.  ^Fonro  took 
off  his  shoes,  climbed  the  step-ladder  the  porter  held  in 
place  for  him.  an.l  crawled,  dressed  as  he  was.  into  his 
restricted  quarters. 

Such  is  the  perversity  of  all  thin-s  pertaininL-  to  hu- 
manity that  on  the  ni.c^hts  when  he  had  resolved'  to  sleep 
at  a  1  costs  he  c<nildn-t.  and  now.  when  he  wished  to  keep 
awake,  drowsiness  persisted  in  overcoming  him  The 
rumble  of  the  train  was  most  somnolent.  '  Tie  lav  face 
downward,  the  better  to  protect  his  char-e.  and  hc'heird 
the  wheels  rhvmin.cr  the  refrain  which  Was  such  a 
favourite  with  Maguire : 

I  have  fifteun  dollars  in  my  inside  pocket, 
Uo  ye  moind. 

He  smiled  at  this,  but  because  of  it,  and  in  spite  of  the 


«I»'«T'    .•.     ':'^'C-«in^T»  '*»,.:* 


"  Mark  his  first  approach  before  my  lady"   201 

sweltcrinjij  niffht.  he  found  hiinscif  dn 
bor.  the  refrain  talsint,'  all  sorts  of  fa 


>l)pinj,'  off  in  slum- 

,„  „    ,  ,  ,       r         -  •'•  -"-iiastic  versions  that 

b>  and  by  seemed  to  l)e  most  rational  variations.    Albany 
disturbed  hun ;  it  was  unnecessarily  noisy  and  excited  for 
that  time  ot  ni.L,dit.    The  train  would  never  .tjet  to  Mont- 
real  if  It  stopped  so  lontr  at  Albany,  he  t'houj,rht      He 
heard  the  rushin.ti  of  trucks  alonir'  the  platforms,   the 
heavy  thud  of  trunks,  the  a.t:itate.i  in(|uiries  of  anxious 
people.     Why  weren't  they  in  bed?    What  was  the  sense 
m  racuis:  up  and  down  like  this?     Somebody  wanted  a 
berth,  anci  the  porter  said  there  wasn't  a  vacant  upper  or 
lower  berth  on  the  train;  then  the  somel.-odv  cursed  the 
inertia  ot  the  railway  company  in  not  addinjr' another  car, 
aiK   an  authoritative  voice  proclaimed  that  the  locomotive 
had  more  than  it  ouffht  to  pull  already,     lie  did  not  re- 
member quittint;  Albany,  for  the  next  tiling  he  knew  was 
that    the  wheels    were  at    their  old    chorus;  then    it    ap- 
peared that  after  settin.c:  a  thousand  miles  or  more  north 
of  Albany  the  conductor  remembered  he  had  for^^otten 
somethingr.  and  so  the  train  was  taken  all  the  way  back  to 
find  it.    Monro,  on  the  whole,  was  favourable  to  the  rail- 
way company,  but  this  really  seemed  too  much.    It  wasn't 
the  proper  way  to  conduct  a  prcat  trunk  line.    They  were 
stoppm,c:  at  Albany  apain.  but  evervbodv  had  ^^one  to  bed, 
probably  not  expectinj^  the  train  to  return,  and  the  place 
vvas  very  quiet.     He  expostulated  with  the  porter,  who 
said  the  conductor  couldn't  find  what  he  wanted  on  ac- 
count of  everybody  bein;?  asleep.     Then  the  porter  i)ro- 
posed  that  he  should  change  his  berth,  but   Monro  in- 
sisted that  he  had  paid  for  upper  live,  and  upper  five  he 
was  souii,'  to  have.     The  porter  insulted  him  by  askinp 
him   if  he   were  awake ;  whereas   he   had  never 'been   to 
sleep,  as  he  informed  the  foolish  ne,c:ro,  who  could  not  be 
expected  to  know  any  better  because  of  his  colour.     But 
the  porter  was  so  persistent  in  saying-  that  his  berth  was 
upper  seven  instead  of  upper  five,  that  to  fjet  rid  of  him 
he  said,  "All   ri.c^ht,  all   ri^ht.     Yes,   I'm  much  wider 
awake  than  you  are.  and  I  am  alroadv  dressed."     That 
seemed  to  satisfy  the  porter,  who  forthwith  ceased  to 
trouble,  and  oblivion  followed. 


B  jpav  *-,&'St\  T  TW  '-Z     jitWr\ 


202 


The  Victors 


11' 


t     I     it 


When  he  actually  awoke,  his  first  motion  was  a  oat  of 
he  hand  a^^a.nst  his  coat.     Yes.  the  pncker  was  hf  i°s 
place   secure  enouK'h.     He  realise.!  „ow  that  he  had  sleo 

niK.    txlnlara  uijr   efJects   „t  Ins    repose.     The  train    w-i<; 
stanjhns    st.ll  an.l    the  silence  struck    him     s    u    .su'l 
Could  .t  he  really  mornin^^?  he  asked  hiniself.    ll"   "r  ' d 
tiK  curtan,s    and  looked    down  the    l-.nL^    i^locm  v  ^;Tl  ' 
wal  ed  on  each  si<le  l.y  somhre  draperx-.    TI.e  la      s  at    1  e 

.I'n     1  •       ^^^•'''•IM'c'd  <Iown  trom  his  upper  hcrth   feeliuL' 
with    his    stockm^^-d    toes    for    the    eck'e   of       e    lower 

hll'shT"'  ^"  ;'"^"['  ^''^'  -^'^'^'l'-  '-K-aU.  hhn.       e  found 
Walkhrdrr.,  '^''    '"^^"■''    ''"""^    ^"^'    P"t    them   on 
rjl.  T  I  '^'  ."'■''■'■'•'^   curtained   canyon,   he    was 

tCh!  d  "•'''  '^"^"'  ""^  '^''  ^"'•^^•^'•'l  window  oee 
hat  lis  sleepmjr-coach  stcK)d  alone  on  a  side-track  that 
omed  the  mam  line  a  little  further  to  the  north      He 

dnnr  h     f   ^^  ^  sfravd-pu  presented  itself.     Tryinjr  the 

vmceu  h.rn  that  he  was  alone  in  the  sleeper ;  every  berth 
upper  and  lower,  was  tenantless.     T1k«  other  door  .In 
o7  tl  ri'',  ^^'"  '^  r''^'  ""'  ""  ^''■-^  "'atter   o  X  one 

p^a^am^J-^^ 

siciJil^t^li^^i^lrrir^jl-r'^lr:-^':;^^^^^^ 

floatc'dTt^  '"^  there^eeme'd' to  b^  a  ^k^'^buZe^'Tt 
Hoated  a  hlmy  gauze  of  morninj-  mist  From  wW  »1 
cou.d  see.  the  car  had  been  abancbned  in  a  mom''  nou 
or  a  eas  a  hilly  region.  The  solemnity  and  com p^^^^' 
of  the  silence  impressed  him.  and  when  he  had  widi 
sonie  difficulty,  raised  a  win.low.  the  air  struck  in  n 
and  delicious.    After  all.  if  there  were  anythmg  to  eatT« 


'^'  »♦  j«aK 


Mark  his  lirst  approach  before  my  lady 


the  nciKhbourliood.  this 
gigantic  oven 


203 

was  not  a  bad  exchange  for  that 


brought  into  shirp 


I'w  Yorl<.     The  shght  refreshintr  I 


ing  breeze 
contrast  tlie  stnttiness  of  the  car.  and 


brcatht 

Suddenly    the  j^tilIne;s^;a7Vrk•en''bv'" he'' incisive 
contmued  ruig  of  an  electric  bell  just  above  his  S' 
Iejunil.ed  as  .t  some  „„.  had   f.red  a   shotgun  ah  s 
ear.     Swmguig  roun.l.  amazed  and   startled    he  gaze 
for  a  moment  stupefie.l  at  the  electrical  indicator  S 
was  fastened  to  the  wall  of  the  car,  near  the  ceiling  w 
the  stdl  quivermg  clapper  of  the  bdl  ahove  it.     The  in- 
dicator was  numbered  according,  to  the  total  of  upper  ami 
ower  berths  u,  the  car.  and  there  were  also  a  ^^%^^ 
disks.        Smoking-Room.  •    •' Dra\ving-R„„ni,"    and    so 
forth.     Monro  had   looke<l   into  everv  berth  as  well  n« 
una  the  smoking-room,   and   ha.l   saiisrtc-d   bin  sdf    ha 
he  vvas  entire  y  ah.ie  in  a  locked  car.   Xow  he  knt-w  there 
must  be  another  forlorn  passenger  oesides  hims"  t"      Tl  e 
disk  h  id  dropped  under  the  words  •'  Drawing-Room  "  so 
recovering  h.s  composure,  he  walked  to  the  other  end  of 
U  e  car  and  pushed  the  ,lrawing-room  door  part  v  open 
tl  n  H      "  ,^/"<-''>.'"^'t  his  eyes  disturbed  him  even  more 
than  the  sudden  ringing  of  the  electric  bell  had  done  a"id 

He  had  a  brief  glimpse  of  a  young  girl  sitting  up  in  the 
one  berth  that  occupied  a  side  of  the  small  comiS^tmem 
She  was  gazing  dreamily,  still  half  asleep,  out  of  the  u  in - 
baTk  tl  e  ;;  "-^--red  lake,  one  smLll  hand  hoi  i  fg 
back  the  brown  window  curtain.     There  was  a  L^eneral 

ot  lact  at  the  neck  and  wrists,  a  prolusion  of  reddish 

rather  than  a  completed  picture  in  Jim's  mind    for  he 
closed  the  door  softly  and   speedily,   standing  oUside 

e°a^!se^d    ror't^f  ""S"'^"  "/"i  '  ^"^™^  wishNhat  "- 
reahsed,  for  the  girl  was  looking  toward  the  lake       A 

voice  came  to  him   clear  and  musical  as  a  silver  bell 

O  porter,  would  you  kiudlv  go  to  the  next  car  for 

""IT^'   b"  T  "^"'  "'^°  '^  '"  '--^  ^"  elve    that  l" 
im  like  her  to  come  to  me  as  soon  as  she  can  ? " 


204 


The  Victors 


Jim  clcart-d  his  throat  onct-  or  twice. 

"  Madam.  1  am  sorry  to  say  there  is  no  porter  and  no 
forward  car.  I'hcre  seems  to  iiave  been  an  accident  of 
.some  sort,  and  tliis  sleeper  has  been  side-tracked  and 
abandoned  bv  tlio  rest  of  tin-  train  in  a  .i^ravel-pit." 

■' O  dear!  "  The  voice  had  now  become  one  of  alarm 
"A»-l  who — and  who — " 

'*  ho  am  I  ?  I  am  the  otiicr  jjas.senper  who  is  left 
Ijelnu 

Tht  J  was  a  pansc.  during'  which  the  occupant  of  the 
drawm.i,'-room  evident;  arose  from  her  berth,  for  Jim 
heard  the  bolt  of  the  door  tlirust  to  with  a  certain  stea'lth. 
but  the  silence  of  the  car  made  the  action  audible,  and' 
Jim  smded  at  the  precaution.  After  an  interval  of 
sdence  he  cleared  the  huskiness  fn.i  his  throat  once 
more  and  said:  "  I  propt.se  to  pet  o.it  of  the  window 
and  discover,  if  I  can.  where  wc  are.  I  will  come  back 
in  a  short  time  and  re])ort  progress  to  you.  if  1  may." 

"Thank  you,"  the  j)leasant  voice  from  the  inner  room 
replied.     "  iUit  why  do  you  jjfo  i)v  wav  of  the  window?  " 

'j  The  outer  doors  are  locked." 

"  Isn't  there  an  a.xe  fastened  to  the  wall  near  the 
door }  " 

"An  a.xe?"  he  answered  in  amazement.  "I  don't 
enow.    (Jh,  yes,  I  see  one  in  the  passage." 

"  Very  well,  then,  break  the  lock  off  the  door.  I'm 
certainly  not  going  to  climb  out  of  the  window;  and  if 
you  will  kindly  knock  off  the  lock  it  will  save  me  the 
trouble  of  doing  so." 

Monro  laugiied  outright,  and  he  thought  he  h<  anl  a 
silvery  echo  of  his  mirUi  from  within  the  state-room. 

"  Aren't  you  afraid  of  a  suit  for  damages?  This  is  an 
expensive  car." 

•'  The  suit  should  go  the  other  wav.  The  company  gets 
off  very  easily  if  a  broken  lock  is  all  it  costs  them  for 
abandoning  two  passengers  in  the  wav  thev  seem  to  have 
done.  I  never  heard  of  such  a  thing."'  Tlie' voice  was  now 
rising  in  indignation.  "  It  is  simply  gross  carelessness 
I  had  no  v.-arjiinir.     Mad  you  ?  " 

"  I'm  afraid  1  had,  and  was  too  sleepy  to  attend  to  it, 


"  Mark  iiis  first  approatli  before  my  lady  "  205 

I  remember  a  verbal  tussle  with  the  porter,  hut  thou-ht 

..  u;  n"S'  "*".'■'  '■''''"  ''"'''^''  '''^^  '»  ^^a"*  a  dream." 
that  lol'k  ?  ••'        "''  '"'"'"  "'"     '^'■*-'  ^'""  «^"'"^'  '^  '"■^■^'^ 
tlie  ^*^'^°""*^•    ^  ^"'  ^^  ^'"'^  moment  gettJn-  the  hanj;  of 

The  renu.vinjr  <>/  the  silver-plated  lock  was  not  so  easy 
as  ,t  seemed  for  sleeprnj^-cars  are  solidly  con^^.tructed.  but 
the  ed^e  of  the  axe  was  at  len^-th  forced'  in  between  metal 
a  u  tunbcr.  .nd  w.th  a  rending,  the  trick  was  done. 
\..nro  opened  the  door  ond  stood  for  a  few  moments  on 
he  platform,  wondering  whether  he  should  speak  to  the 

nnff^rtrr     ^'^'^'"""°ist''"'^'  "^  ^'^^  neighbourhood  with- 
out further  parley.    He  bought  he  should  speak,  but  was 

At  HhI  ^".T  f'^'^fy  '^^^^  ^'  °"Sht  to'  address  her. 
At  last  he  went  to  the  door  of  the  drawing-room  and  said  • 

find  nmTr  ^"  '";"''"'  '"'"  ^'^'""'"^tion  of  the  locality,  and 

time.-'  "'"'"  "^  ^"^  '''*'•    ^  ''''"  ^"'  ^^""^  '"  ^  ^•'"'•t 

lie  fancied  he  heard  the  sound  of  suppressed  lauRliter. 

o?  the'hZ  "'^  ";  f^'^'^^'^'y  ^"h  '^"  ^^'^^"t  appreciation 
of  the  humour  of  ne  situation.  Such  an  outlook  rendered 
the  crisis  less  embarrassing.  Then  he  remembere.l  .hat 
he  had  made  almost  exactly  the  same  statement  of  inten- 

tTw..."!  v"'""f,!  ^'^'■'''  ^"^  ^'^^''  '^  ^^'^•-  th*-'  laugh- 
ter was  at  him  rather  than  with  him. 

"  I  thought  you  knew  where  we  were  already."  came 
the  voice  at  last.     "  You  said  we  were  in  a  gravd-pit." 

Uh.  I  know  that  much,  but  the  knowledge  struck  me 
as  limited,  and  1  propose  to  extend  it  " 

;;  A  very  happy  idea.     Isn't  there  any  depot  here  ?  " 
Ihere  doesn't  seem  to  be." 

"  Well.  I  suppose  the  first  thing  to  do  is  to  find  out 
where  the  nearest  telegraph  office  is  " 

"  Yes,  I  thmk  so." 

"  I  suppose  this  car  is  disabled-a  broken  wheel,  per- 
haps Dont  you  imagine  they  will  send  back  a  locomo- 
tive for  it  from  the  first  p^ace  the  expres-.  stops  at  if 
there  is  an  extra  engine  there.  Or  perhaps  ley  will  tele- 
graph for  one.  They  can't  leave  a  car  like  (his  for  lone 
but  must  take  it  to  the  nearest  repair  shop  " 


lir. 


Ii 


I    I 


III!'' 


206 


The  Victors 


I  shoultl  say  they  will  do  exactly  as  you  snijffcst  " 
rep  .0(1  Jin,  astomshcl  that  a  voiu.k'  woman  should  show 
such  knowlcdKc  of  the  working  of  a  railway  line  and 
such  practical  apniicalion  of  her  inforniation.  '  Somehow 
the  mcndms:  o<  a  sleepiuff  car  seemed  rather  out  of 
the  usual  splure  of  feminine  occ  pation. 

"Very  well   then,  you  jjo.  and  if  the  engine  comes  1 
sliall  ask  the  dnyer  to  whistle,  so  that  you  will  know  help 

'"'  .,r?-    ,    '^"^"  ^'-^"  "^'''^^'  '''i'"'  vyait  until  you  retur'  " 
Ihank  you  very  much," 

Monro  stepped  down  from  the  car  and  walked  over  to 

to  Inmse  f.     She  evidently  has  not  the  least  doubt  that 
she  can  boss  the  wrecking  gang  when  it  arrives." 

Ihere  was  httle  to  be  learned  from  lo(.king  up  and 
down  the  vacant  line,  for  vision  in  either  direction  was 
imited.     The  track  followed  the  curving  shores  of  the 
lake   and  swung  cA  of  sight  a  short  distance  north  and 
south.    He  was  in  doubt  which  way  to  travel,  but  finally 
kept  the  direction  to  which  he  had  set  his  face  when  he 
left  New  York  the  night  before.    He  soon  espied  a  farm- 
hcuse  on  the  side  of  the  hill  overlo<jking  the  railway,  and 
thither  he  bent  his  steps.     There  ^vas  no  man  about  the 
place   but  an  exceedingly  inquisitive  woman  standin  •  at 
the  door  shot  out  questions  enough  for  a  dozen      She 
was  much  mterested  in  the  fact  that  a  sleeping-car  had 
been  dropped  off  the  night  express,  and  wanted  to  know 
all  about  It.    Monro  told  her  as  much  as  he  thought  was 
necess^ary.  then  made  some  inquiries  on  his  own  account 
How  far  away  was  the  nearest  telegraph  office.and  in  what 
direction?     I-ive  miles  to  the  north,  along  the  line,  and 
seven  miles  by  the  road,  but  it  was  not  much  of  a  depot— 
a  freight  shed,  rather— and  very  few  trains  stopped  there 
Yes.  there  was  a  telegraph  office,  she  thought,  but  she 
wasnt  sure.     Bound  to  be  a  telegraph  office  of  some 
kind  for  the  running  of  the  trains.     She  wondered  why 
they  didn  t  take  the  car  to  the  Junction.    There  were  Ion- 
switches  at  that  point,  where  freight  trains  waited  to  lei 
expresses  go  by.    No.  she  didn't  think  he  could  get  a  horse 
and  buggy  in  the  neighbourhood,  least  not  nearer  than 


.1  ..».-' l)<^   htj- 


"  Mark  liis  first  approach  before  my  lady  "  207 

the  villajjc  ami  that  was  further  on  than  the  Junction,  so 

there      Well   they  called  it  the  Junctkw,.  anyhow,  hut  she 
uasnt  sure  that  any  line  hranched  off;  rather  thought 
one  <h,  .  thonoh.    She  had  Invn  very  sel.Iom  at  the  Junc- 
lum.     It  wasnt  nnich  of  a  place,  even  the  villai-e      He 
miffht  Kct  a  team  a.id  a  wa.^,,,  if  1,^  „.aited  till  the  men 
canie  home  at  noon,  hut  they  were  pretty  husv  just  now. 
.itul  she  <|idnt  kn..w  that  any  of  them  would  care  to  ir.i 
unless  somethini-  had  hrokcn   in   the  fields,   when  thev 
\youl<I  li.nve  to  make  a  journey  anyhow  to  the  hlacksmitli 
Miop.  and  then  as  like  as  not  one  of  the  boys  would  ro 
on  h..r>el.ack.     J-.,r  lu  r  part,  she  would  rather  walk  the 
rack.     It  was  n,,  distance  f.-r  a  stalwart  v(.untr  man  on  a 
lovely  summer  mornin«:.  and  l.esides  it  was  a  beautiful 
stroll,  al.m- the  lake  all  tlu'  way.    She  didn't  know  as  she 
had  anythm^^  to  eat-much;  but  if  he  wasn't  particular 
there  was  h.Miie-made  bread  and  j;oo<|  fresh  butter     She 
could    fry   some  e.i:«:s.  or   would   he   have  them   boiled' 
1  hoi  tiK      was  cllce.  such  as  it  was.  ( )li,  vrs  ;  there  was 
plenty  of  mdk.  of  course.    Would  he  c.jmein  ?    It  would 
be  ready  m  a  jiffy.     Wanted  to  take  it  to  the  car'     Oh 
then  there  was  some  we  else  there  that  had  been  left  as 
)''*'",•?•  ''%,  '^"  tell !     Why  didn't  he  come  too?     Oh   an 
invalid.      That    was    too    bad.     Hope    it    isn't    anything 
catch  uij.  -^        *» 

Monro  was  nearly  in  despair  at  the  questioning 
woman  s  reluctance  to  cease  her  inquiries  and  jjet  the 
repast  he  had  ordered :  but  at  last  it  was  all  ready  for 
htm.  and  stdl  heariiitj  no  sound  of  the  approach' of  a 
wreckm.i,-  tram,  he  left  the  farmhouse  with  a  miscella- 
neous burden  tiiat  presented  some  difficulties  in  the  carrv- 

_  The  palatial  car  stood  in  the  ,q:ravel-i)it.  lookinj:^  most 
uicon.-Tuous  in  its  nniirh  surroundint^s.  As  he  came 
nearer  lie  saw  the  fi,i,airc  of  the  girl  outhned  a-ainst  the 
^lancmjr  water.  wMUiwr  slowlv  on  the  firm  .sandy  beach 
l!-vcn  a  man  could  not  help  noticing  how  neatlv  her  weU 
made  travelling  dress  fitted  her.  and  to  Monro  it  seemed 
the  height  of  fashion,  which  doubtless  it  was.     With  a 


it! 


m 


208 


The  Victors 


m 


ill' 


if! 


m-  i 


mi-         ;f    J 


1 

I 

1 

u 

ifc 

i   i 

>        1 

fl 

-1 

i  i 

coquetry  which,  however,  was  lost  on  him,  she  had  not 
put  over  It  the  j^rey  gossamer  duster,  which  huujr  in  folds 
of  him  across  her  arm.  Hearingr  him  approach,  she  turned 
toward  hun  a  face  which  was  not  only  lovely  but 
radiated  great  good  nature  as  well.  She  had  some  diffi- 
cuUy  m  suppressing  the  tendency  of  her  pretty  lips  to 
smde,  but  tlie  dai  -ing  light  in  her  eves  could  not  be 
(luenched,  and  he  likened  it  to  the  sparkle  of  the  newl> 
risen  sun  on  the  blue  water  of  the  lake,  from  which  the 
mist  had  now  entirely  disappeared. 

"  Well  ?  "  she  said."    "  And  what  State  are  we  in  ?  " 
''A    state    of  uncertainty    still."  replied    Jim.  with    a 
smile.     "  I  really  forgot  to  ask.     I  suspect  Vermont,  but 
I  m  not  sure.    Perhaps  we're  in  Canada." 

'■  It's  more  than  likely.  They  would  never  dare  play 
such  a  trick  as  this  on  us  in  our  own  country— Gods 
country,  as  my  father  calls  it." 

■'  The  nearest  depot  is  five  miles  awav,  to  the  north. 
The  woman  up  at  the  farmhouse  savs  she'  thinks  a  buggy 
can  be  got  at  the  village  ;  so  if  you  will  wait  here  I  will  go 
to  the  Junction,  and  come  back  with  whatever  vehicle  I 
can  find." 

"Nonsense.  What's  five  miles  ?  I  don't  mind  walking 
in  the  least.  That's  what  I'm  going  to  Canada  for.  P.e- 
sides.  even  if  there  were  a  buggy  here  I  would  not  go  by 
road,  for  the  locomotive  will  very  likclv  come  whde  we 
are  on  the  way;  then,  when  we  reached' the  Junction  ^ve 
should  be  no  better  otf." 

"  The  locomotive  mav  come  from  the  south  you 
know."  ' 

"  That's  true.  I  hadn't  thought  of  that.  What  have 
you  there  ?  " 

■•  An  attempt  at  breakfast.  Some  bread  and  butter, 
cofiFee,  milk,  hard-boiled  eggs  and  a  whole  apple-pie! 
It's  the  best  I  could  do." 

"  How  delightful !  I  never  expected  this.  To  tell  the 
truth,  instead  of  admiring  the  beautiful  scenery,  I  was  just 
regretting  that  they  had  not  abandoned  a  dining-car  as 
well.  I  think  this  sweet,  cool  air  must  be  the  cause  of 
such  a  departure  from  all  that  should  be  expected  of  a 


— rrT"TTI1l«'"HTT  ~  ■•  -ST.  •"' 


"Mark  his  first  approach  before  mv  ladv 


>0Q 


person   at    tlic   foot   of   the   hills   by   tlie   iiiari^nn   of    •>.« 
enchantiiij^'-  lake." 

"  Do  you  prefer  to  breakfast  in  the  car?  " 
"  Oh.  no.  no.  That  would  b.'  misusing-  our  pri-,  ]( <.  os. 
The  air  of  New  York  seems  still  in  that  car.  an  i  Imvv 
frightfully  hot  it  was  in  the  city  yesterday !  There  is  a 
smooth  dry  rock  a  little  further  down  (m'the  beach  that 
will  do  as  table  and  chairs  both.  Can  I  help  yuu  witli 
aiiythini;?     I.ct  me  carry  the  pitcher,  at  least."  ' 

"  This  is  all  right,  thank  you.  I  believe  I  am  already 
qualified  as  an  expert  waiter,  although  I  won't  do  any 
boasting  until  I  get  everything  safely  to  the  table  rock." 
"  Aly  name  is  Miss  Van  Ness."  slie  said,  suddenly,  a- 
they  walked  along  the  firm  sand  together.  "  I  live  in 
New  York  and  am  on  a  pleasure  trip  to  Canada.  Just  as 
we  have  to  be  our  own  waiters  this  morning,  I  suj^pose  we 
may  as  well  be  our  own  introducers." 

"My  name  is  Monro,  also  of  Xew  \  ork.  but  a  tvvo- 
days'  resident  only  in  that  ciiy.  T  am  on  a  business  trip 
to  Montreal,  representing-  for  the  time  being  the  firm  of 
Glassthrop  &  Co.,  P.roadway — jjatent  agents,  company 
promoters  and  people  of  that  sort." 

This  explanation  brought  them  to  the  place  for  which 
they  were  searching,  and  the  girl  threw  her  folded  duster 
on  the  ed^^e  of  the  rock  and  seated  herself  there.  The 
gentle  waves  lapped  the  firm  fine  sand  almost  at  her  feet. 
Monro  had  carried  the  big  hot  tin  cofTee-])ot  in  one  hand, 
while  the  other  supported  a  wo  xlen  pail  which  held 
everything  else,  and  which  had  to  be  balanced  gingerly 
so  that  the  pitcher  containing  the  milk  would  not  t^nple 
over. 

"Let  me  pour  out  the  coflfee."  said  Miss  \'an  Ness; 
and  this  she  did,  when  he  had  arranged  the  two  cups.  All 
in  all  it  was  a  very  jolly  breakfast,  the  inspiring  air  giving 
a  zest  to  it  which  might  have  btsjn  absent  in  New  York" 
Having  put  coffee-pot,  pitcher,  cups  and  plates  all  in  the 
wooden  ])nil  again,  the  two  started  on  iheir  journev  up 
the  line,  Monro  deflecting  from  the  road  when  opposite 
the  farmhouse,  so  that  he  might  deliver  to  its  owner  her 
belongings.  The  woman  was  at  the  door  again.  Monro 
14 


Hi: 


m 


■ 'A*>*'.E^'^JK1II 


"u"':  'JLi-Mty, 


Ittr 

I  £  In 


m 


<»!  i 
•i  ! 
Ill 


.1    S 


^  li 

: 


210 


The  Victors 


had  paul  her  well  before  he  took  away  the  provender 
but  now  he  thanked  her  effusively.  He  was  aware  that 
the  woman  s  eyes  were  upon  the  trim  figure  walking 
slowly  along  the  ties  far  below.  ^ 

"Uh,  Uwfs  the  invalid,  is  it?"  she  remarked,  with 
some  asperity.  ' 

lau-h'^^  ^  ^''''  '"'^'''''  "'^'^^"''"  '^'^  ^^^'^"'■O'  with  a  guilty 

"  She's  got  better  pretty  quick."' 

"  Who  wouldn't,  madam,  after  such  excellent  cooking? 
I  assure  you  we  don't  get  bread  so  good  or  butter  so 
sweet  as  that  in  the  city." 

The  woman's  grimness  relaxed,  and  the  trace  of  a 
smile  came  to  her  thin  lips.    She  sighed. 

"  Ah  well,  good  luck  to  you  both."  It  is  nice  to  be 
young. 

"  Thank  you.  madam."  and  Jim  took  off  his  hat  with 
the  sweep  of  a  courtier.  The  next  instant  he  was  bound- 
ing down  the  hill,  and  leaped  the  stone  wall  at  the  foot 
without  putting  a  hand  on  it. 

.r"]  m''"  a''°"^v^  '^  ''"  °"*'  ''^"*'  ^  understand  it  now," 
cned  Miss  \  an  \ess.  with  all  the  bright  eagerness  of  a 
little  girl  who  has  made  a  wonderful  discovery.  Jim 
moderated  his  pace  as  he  came  uj)  with  her. 

i^es?    And  what  are  your  conclusions?"  he  asked 
^"f.\^'  \\  ^'^  ""^'erstood  the  subject  of  her  meditations       ' 

fnll.  .r"    '''^'    ^^'Z'^   '^""^    probably    another    train 

following  the  express.  Perhaps  they  knew  that  it  had  al- 
ready left  he  siding  on  which  it  stood  when  the  express 
passed  north,  and  of  course  they  could  not  telegraph  and 
s  op  ,t.  I  examined  the  sleeping-car  while  you  were  up  at 
e  farm,  and  one  of  its  wheels  is  broken,  almost  spli?  in 
T  '  1  ;\*^"^'^"'"  t'l^'re  was  not  a  smash-up  as  i    was. 

ri  ere  would  have  been  before  it  had  run  another  mile. 
Uf  course  they  would  send  a  man  back  to  flag  the  oncom- 
ing train,  but  this  morning  it  was  mistv  on  the  lake,  and 
perhaps  during  the  night  we   were   running  through  a 

f''.^  h  ^^-  ^^^^  ''■'''  '^'^  '^^^^^  ^'^^''■^  ^^••'^-'^  ^very  chance 
of  the  following  train  running  past  the  flag-man  The 
crew  must  have  been  in  a  panic,  with  half  tlic  express  on 


"Mark  his  first  approach  before  my. lady  "211 

the  main  line  and  half  up  that  jrravel-pit  sidino-;  just  the 
proper  conditions  for  a  frightful  wreck ;  so  tl^e  J  vvouUl 
be  scant  tune  to  rouse  tlu-  occupants  of  our  car.  and  4 
hem  moved  on  to  the  train  in  front.  Porters  always  lose 
their  heads  m  a  case  of  that  kind,  and  I  have  no  doubt 
our  own  porter,  with  chattering  teeth,  told  the  conduct 
hat  everybody  was  out.  Still  the  conductor  ought  to  have 
seen  for  himself,  though  I  can  imagine  how  '^nx  ou  he 
was  to  pull  out  and  whistle  back  the  tlag-man.  Tl  a's 
how  It  happened.  I'm  sure." 

Ne'ss^^vr'  '^'*"'!  '"r'"'^  '°  '"'  '^''  companv,  Miss  X'an 
i\ess.      You  are  pleading  extenuating  circumstances  for 

;;  Sue  the  company^    I  don't  understand  vou." 
VVliy,  you  know,  you  said  when  I  hesitated  to  chop 

wtreLT'V^^'^^  ,'"'  ^^"•''"^'  ^-  -''"^^  t'^^  --Pam% 
heTZ  ":^'''^  they  would  imprison  me  for  house: 
breaking  or  train-wrecking." 

"  ^h.  yes  You  might  bring  an  action  against  th-  .com- 
pany, but  I  m  barred.  You  see,  I  travel  on  a  pa  1  I 
believe  the  conditions  are  I  have  no  remedy  in  ^r 
ot  this  kind.  And  then,  again,  filial  duty  woul.  keep 
me  from  saying  a  word  about  this.  I  strongly  suspect 
my  father  i.s  part  owner  of  this  line.  If  I  knew  just  where 
vye  were  I  should  be  able  to  tell  vou  for  certain:  He  is  a 
railroad  man.  and  so  high  up  in' the  service  that  his  only 
daughter  can  travel  all  over  the  country  without  pavin- 
fare.  Isnt  that  delightful?  Do  you  pay  your  fare>  " 
Alas,  yes.                                                '   ' 

"So  many  people  do!  It  always  seems  a  waste  of 
money  to  me.  but  then  I  suppose  somebody  must  pay  or 
we  couldn  t  keep  the  trains  running  "  ' 

The  young  man  laughed,  and  she  looked  brightly  at 
him,  a  smile  on  her  own  fair  face,  the  colour  in  her  cl/eeks 
the  more  vivid  from  the  exercise  of  walking  in  that  brisk 
Hir. 

''  What  are  you  laughing  at  ?  "  she  asked. 
Vou  said  'we.'  as  if  you  were  running  the  trains  in 
conjunction  with  your  father." 
"  Well,  I  am,  in  a  measure.     He  always  calls  me  his 


H";! 


if." 


212 


The  Victors 


Hi  1 1 1 


ill  i  i 


Itllh 


assistant  tiiana'^'cr.      IVrhaps  you   won't  believe   I   have 
ridden  on  an  en^-ine." 

"I  can  liardly  iniaqiiu-  you  doiim-  that;  it  is  all  so 
jj^reasy  and  smoky  and  ciiidery.  and  you  look — "  He 
paused,  ahruinly. 

"Yes,  and  I  look — ?  ( io  on.  .''lease  don't  slop  \vh<'n 
you  come  to  the  most  interesting;-  part." 

"  Well,  you  look  more  like  a  nymph  of  this  lovely  lake 
than — than  anything-  else."  Me  ended  kimely  and  in  some 
confusion,  thishinjn;-  awkwardly,  for  he  was  unused  to 
liayin^'  compliments  to  fair  ladies.  His  toe  stubbed 
as^ainst  one  of  the  ties,  and  he  ."rtumhled.  recoverinc:  just 
in  time  to  save  himself  froni  a  fall,  '^'ies  form  an  incon- 
venient pavement,  althou,^h  the  s'irl  trod  lijc^htly  on  them, 
as  if  she  had  Ix-en  accustomed  to  walkin;,'  the  track  all 
her  life.  Jim  blu.shed  more  deeply  than  ever  as  he  re- 
,q-ained  his  equilibrium.  The  merry  laushler  of  Miss  Van 
Xess  echoed  from  the  rocks. 

"Am  I  so  counirified  as  all  tiiat?"  she  said.  "I 
l)oked  up  at  yon  a  while  ag-o  when  you  were  b;)wing  so 
c^randly  with  a  flourish  of  the  hat 'to  the  lady  of  the 
lake  who  stood  at  the  farmhouse  door.  Were  you  tellinjj 
her  she  was  a  nymph  ?  " 

"  I  was  tellini^  her  something-  much  more  practical, 
which  I  think  pleased  her  well.  I  praised  her  bakini,'-  of 
bread  and  makinpf  of  butter." 

"  ( )h,  1  see.  Then  you  have  a  stock  of  compliments  to 
suit  all  tastes  and  all  ranks  of  life." 

"  I  can't  allow  that,  Miss  \an  Xess.  There  are  no 
ranks  of  life  in  this  country." 

"  Ah,  yes.  you  told  me  you  had  been  but  one  day  in  New 
York.  You'll  know  ever  so  nuich  better  than  that  before 
you  are  there  a  year." 

"  All  men  are  born  free  and  equal,"  quoted  Jmi,  in  self- 
defence. 

"  Perhaps,  but  all  women  are  not,  thank  goodness. 
However  this  may  be  a  mere  ruse  on  your  part  to  lead 
me  into  a  political  or  social  discussion,  where  I  refuse  to 
follow  you,  and  thus  lose  sight  of  the  fact  that  you  tacitly 
admit  you  have  a  stock  of  compliments.     I'lease  let  me 


^TWIi  •»»»=*       "Wi^lFlL"" 


"Mark  Ins  first  approach  before  my  lady  "  213 

hear  them,  one  after  another,  from  the  eulogy  of  the  bread 
to  the  tiattery  suitable  for  the  wife  cjf  a  president  of  the 
United  States." 

"  You  wrong-  mc,  Miss  \an  Xess.  1  don't  think  I  ever 
flattered  anyone  in  my  life;  rather  too  much  the  other 
way.  I^  fancy.  I  had  a  jjenuine  admiration  for  that 
woman's  bread  and  butter,  just  as  I  had  a  genuine  ad- 
miration for — for — " 

'■  For  the  nymph  of  the  lake?  " 

"  Exactly,  and  thank  you.  Miss  Van   Ness." 

"You  arc  quite  welcome.  Mr.  Monro;  and  1  am  glad 
you  are  grateful,  for  I  helped  you  over  a  very  difficult 
place,  didn't  I  ?  " 

"  Yes,  you  dul." 

They  both  laughed  in  sheer  enjoyment  of  the  morning, 
and  their  walk  and  their  youth,  as'the  farmer's  wife  had 
said.  The  laugh  came  back  to  them  from  the  cliff,  and 
seemed  to  dissipate  itself  in  silvery  undertones  over  the 
placid  waters  of  the  lake. 

"  What  a  wonderful  echo!  "  she  cried,  and,  facing  the 
rocks,  ran  up  and  down  an  octave  with  a  musical  voice 
that  had  evidently  been  well  trained.  "  Are  you  a  college 
man?"  she  aske<',  abruptly,  turning  suddenly  towards 
him. 

"Yes,  in  a  way.     Do  you  want  the  college  yell?" 

"  Oh.  do  give  it!  " 

Jim  braced  liimself  up,  filled  his  broad  chest  and  gave 
utterance  to  a  long,  spasmodic,  ear-rending  crv,  the  "like 
of  which  had  certainly  never  been  heard  in  that  locality 
since  the  last  war-whoop  of  the  savages  resounded  on  the 
margin  of  the  lake.  The  cry  seemed  to  shatter  against 
the  face  of  the  cliff  and  come  quivering  back  to  them  like 
the  laughter  of  imprisoned  gnomes  in  the  rocks. 

"  Oh.  how  delightful !  "  cried  the  girl.  "  That's  where 
men's  colleges  always  will  have  the  advantage  of  ours. 
We  can  scream,  but  we  can't  yell." 

They  resumed  their  walk  along  the  ties,  easy  for  her 
because  her  shor*  steps  just  fitted  the  closely  laid  sleepers  ; 
more  difficult  for  him.  as  the  beams  were  too  near  together 
for  his  long  strides,  and  too  far  apart  to  make  every 


214 


The  Victors 


M 


M' 


hi 


second  one  a  convenient  foot-rest.  The  two  talked  as 
gady  and  mconsec,uent.v  as  a  pair  of  children,  an  1  were 
more  fncndlv  wit',  each  other  at  the  cul  of  tha  scroll 
of  an  hour  and  half  than  the,  would  have  hecon.  dur"!! 
a  >ears  acquaintance  m  town.  She  told  hitn  of  the 
dehght  of  travellniK^  all  through  the  West  t.,  the  Pac  fie 
coast  HI  a  private  car  with  her  father :  of  the  secrets  per- 
tainins:   o  miportant  railway  conferences  which  she  knew 

Som    'of"""P'^-''  ""^  ^"'"'^^  ''''■'  ^i-"   --h  "^ 

hnk    o'f         J°"7^y'"ff  .'»    Switzerland.    Genranv    and 

al> .  of  snignig  lessons  ,n  \'ienna,  and  what  not.  'When 

he  collegewas  mentioned  she  professed  some  eagerness  to 

learn  ahout  co-education  in  the  West,  an  idea  u^'iich  was 

making  Its  way  but  slowly  toward  the  rising    un      She 

was  in  doubt  whether  or  not  it  was  desirable  that  vo  u  g 

men  and  yonngwomen  should  attend  the  same  classi  a  d 

He  saw  no  objection,  and  related  incidents.     Were  the 
dia    point.     Len  was  engaged  to  one  of  them,  and  at  that 

^.  r  /i  '""^"'^  '"'  '''"^■"''°"  '"«'-^'  ''^t'-i^-tlv  to  his 

Dooks.  At  t  lis  innocent  announcement  the  girl  walkine 
by  his  side  glanced  shyly  askance  at  his  honest  face  wi"h 
a  slight,  incredulous  smile  on  her  prcttv  lips 
.  Ah,  there  is  the  Junction  at  last."  she  said,  as  a  turn 
in  the  road  brought  the  station  buildings  into  si-bt  "  T 
wonder  if  we  have  broken  a  record  in  pedestrianism  >"  We 
seemed  to  walk  pretty  fast." 

"  I  doubt  it,"  said  Jim,  looking  at  his  watch.     "  We 

''"is  rr^ nf  w" n°"l  '''''  ^"^  ^  '^^^^  ""1^''  i"  an  hour." 
for  ilowTrol^s"^^"'  '"  ''''''  ^"^  ''^  -^^"->'  — ^ 
^'  And  the  conversation,"  suggested  Jim. 
"Yes,  and  the  conversation,"  she  assented      "That 

tZlZt  f.ri^}"^'  lengthened  the  time.  Im  afraid 
I  did  most  of  the  talking.  I  generally  do.  It's  a  woman's 
privilege,  you  know."  woiuau  a 

But  Jim  maintamed  he  had  contributed  his  share,  and 


"^^'JUbiiP'    -'.MM     M^M-'iJLm 


"Mark  his  first  approach  before  my  lady"  215 

thus  they  arrived  at  the  lonsr  platform  that  lav  between  the 
low  wooden  bu.lclmgfs  and  the  railway  tracks  nassinn 
a  srreat  circular  tub  of  a  dripninjr  tank  rwl;/i  ^ 
fmber  framework,  which  .tZluT,  bidy  "  ntb'] 
guardmg  the  approach  to  the  Junction.  ^ 


H 


.li 


.1  :, 

I     I 

' 

i    ' 

^      i 

1    ! 

'      'i 

■ 

U  i 


CHAPTER    IV 

"l    SAT    '-I-ON'    A    PKOMOXn.KY    AM)    IIKAKD    A    MKRMAin  " 

TiiK  ma.eric  name  of  \'an  Xoss  stirred  into  activity  and 
n'  )st  resi)ectful  courtesy  the  amazed  station  agent  and  tlie 
tek'fjraph  operator. 

"  Not  Mr.  Van  Xess,  the  manajjcr?  "  said  the  latter. 

"  Yes,  he  is  my  father,  and  I  want  to  send  a  teleijram 
to  him,  also  some  others  to  Montreal,  but  I  have  left  my 
purse  in  my  hand-l)aJ,^  and  that  is  in  the  drawing-room  o'f 
the  sleepingf-car.  The  door  of  the  car  we  had  to  break 
open,  so  perhaps  some  one  should  be  sent  to  fasten  it. 
and  the  messenger  might  bring  my  satchel  when  he  re- 
turns." 

"  Certainly,  certainly,"  replied  the  station  agent.  "  I'll 
send  two  men  right  now  with  a  hand-car.and  tlicv'll  bring 
back  your  things  in  a  jiffy;  but  you  don't  need  money. 
Miss  Van  Ness,  to  do  all  the  telegraphing  you  want." 

"  If  you  will  come  with  me,  .\iiss  Van  Ness."  said  the 
operator,  leading  the  way  to  the  telegraph  office,  where  a 
chattering  brass  instrument  was  soliloquising,  "  you  can 
write  out  your  messages." 

She  sent  a  long  despatch  to  her  father,  a  shorter  one  to 
the  friends  at  Montreal  who  were  expecting  her,  and  a 
still  shorter  one  to  the  station  master  at  the  Grand  Trunk 
terminus,  asking  him  to  assure  the  French  maid  of  her 
safety,  for  the  woman,  Miss  Van  Ness  knew,  would  be 
raving  about  the  station  in  terror  at  finding  herself  alone, 
and  would  say  things  that  might  get  into  the  papers ;  so. 
being  the  true  daughter  of  a  railway  man,  she  had  all  his 
dread  of  anything  getting  into  the  press  which  could  be 
magnified  into  a  narrow  escape  from  death  or  disaster  on 
the  line,  which  indeed  the  incident  was.  So  she  asked  the 
operator  to  send  her  telegram  to  the  Montreal  station- 
216 


.•;  ms^mw  Wir  ite^f.^i^^jim 


MS^ 


<i 


I  sat 


upon  a  promontory 


217 


flasr  It  if  we  want  him  to  "      ^'''"•-"-  ^"'  ''^"  '"^  ?"'nff  to 

a  fast  frd^In-tS  ii^hr  ,  •'■'  ^"'^-f^^^•^«■'l  ^-0.1  fur 
have  the  4a  1  stirl  nn  "  T'"  ''  ^'"'''-  '  '^''  '''  '^'^^^ 
iK-fore  thaMime    or  I    IV  i  "'  ''"''  ''^  excitement  lon^^ 

,.„;;  P'^lifrl'tf"!.  if  vou  will  ,^ivo  mc  permission  to  so  wi.h 

Jr  the  commam  s  of  \[r    Vnn  v....  .-    , 

as  willingly  oheved  as  tOse  of  hi    ch,  .dm'rr    '"'";  ''' 
a  well-disciplinc.l  staff  "  '•«'»».irlUer,  he  must  havc 

he;!^t i;;^^,:^-^^  -  ^^l  ^-  H.ht  Of  nde  i. 
mounted  the  sieep  hill  '    ''"'   ^''"^^^'^^''  '-»"'' 


ill 


f  -  S^>;i,' 


?/^:^- 


ill 


^^•  ! 


tit; 


il^ 


ij    »      ' 

rill 


'  1 


2l8 


The  Victors 


enoiipli  to  satisfy  tlu>  most  cxactiiij^.  The  jLjlitterimj  lake 
and  the  dim.  misty  hills  hcyoiid  formed  a  most  alluriu)? 
picture.  The  railway  was  hidden  for  the  most  part,  and 
when  seen  between  the  juttinj,'  headlands  was  too  far 
away  to  mar  the  outlook.  Tluy  sat  down  tojjcthcr  on  a 
fallen  lojjf.  and  for  a  time  j^'azed  at  the  panorama  in  .si- 
lence. At  last  they  cau^dit  R:!im|)ses  of  the  hand-car  re- 
turninjjf.  "How  (|uick  they  have  been!"  she  said. 
"  They  have  beaten  our  time,  and  I  hope  they  have  my 
hand-bajj  safe." 

"Why  didn't  you  let  nie  know  it  was  in  the  car;  I 
could  have  carried  it  for  vou." 

"To  tell  the  truth.  1  v.^ot  all  about  it;  but  in  any 
case  I  could  not  have  paid  you  for  the  porleratje.  and  I 
can  pay  the  two  men  :  lx?sides,  they  neeil  the  money,  ami 
you  don't." 

"  How  do  you  know?  " 

*'  Do  you?  "  she  asked.  (|uickly.  looking'  at  Iv,.-. 
"Would  you  letid  me  .some?"  he  lau.i^hed. 
"Why.  of  course.  How  much?  f  am  realiy  more 
deei)ly  indebted  to  you  than  to  the  men  we  were  speak- 
iuf,'  of.  Indeed  I  don't  know  what  I  should  have  done 
without  you  this  morninc:.  for  althou,q:h  I  asked  you  so 
airily  to  break  open  that  door.  I  doubt  if  I  could  have 
done  it  myself.  Yes,  and  there's  the  breakfast,  too.  I 
owe  that  to  you  also,  but  with  the  ingratitude  of  the  well- 
fed.  I  had  forjjotten." 

"  I  must  confess  that  the  view  you  arc  kind  enoug'h  to 
take  of  the  incident  had  not  occurred  to  me.  for  the 
pleasure  of  makinj^  your  acquaintance  puts  tiie  indebted- 
ness all  on  my  side.'' 

Monro  manat^ed  to  .c:et  the  sentence  completed,  but  it 
was  with  evident  difficulty,  and  he  gazed  fi.xedly  at  the 
ground  below  him.  inwardly  reviling  the  commonplace 
and  obvious  remark  he  had  made,  wishing  he  could  think 
of  something  light  and  brilliant  to  say,  or  at  least  had 
the  skill  to  cliange  the  topic  of  conversation  without  ap- 
pearing to  do  so.  The  girl  glanced  slyly  at  him  with 
quiet  enjoyment.  He  was  so  refreshingly  diflferent  from 
the  society  young  men  she  knew.  However,  Monro  pulled 


"  I  sat  upon  a  promontory  "  219 

himself  together   a-ul  abandoned  the  region  of  comph- 
mentary  small  talk.  *^ 

m.li/'""'*  ''.  ''''"'^  ^^^^  ^  '^^"  ^  ^  '■^'•way  manager 
myself  some  day.  he  contmued.  Ml  my  luck  seems  to 
run  .-.long  railway  hncs.  The  reason  I  am  here  is  because 
of  a  railway  mcident  in  Michigan  a  few  nights  ago.  My 
friend  and  myself  were  stealing  a  ride—" 
*'  Were  what  ?  " 

"  ^'^v!  ^"''^"^  ^'""  ^""^-^  *'^^'  daughter  of  a  railway  man- 
ager. Ihat  was  a  give-awav  on  my  part,  wasn't  it?  I 
nope  you  won't  inform  on  inc." 

"  I  can't  inform  until  F  know  vour  crime.  ILm  do 
you  steal  a  ride  ?  Hy  getting  under  the  seat  and  avoiding 
the  conductor  when  he  com<'s  round  for  tickets?" 

Ao.  We  don't  patronise  passenger  trains,  but  ac- 
cept the  hospitality  of  an  empty  car  on  a  freight  It  is 
the  stalwart  brakeman  one  lias  to  avoid,  not  the  con- 
ductor. 

"How  jolly!     Please  tell  me  about  it." 

Jim  told  his  story  with  the  utmost  simplicity,  but  the 
narrative  had  all  the  graphic  reality  of  the  actual,  and  the 
girl  gave  absorbed  attention  to  it.  Here  was  the  railway 
business  viewed  from  the  uwl  !e.  and  the  aspect  was 
new  to  her,  diflFenng  as  mucu  irom  the  Pullman  car 
standpoint  as  Jim  himself  differed  from  the  polished 
young  man  of  Fifth  avenue. 

Time  passed  quickly,  and  it  was  Monro  who  first  no- 
ticed that  the  red  flag  was  flying  down  at  the  station 

Alas !     Your  telegram  has  come,"  he  said,  rising  to 
his  feet  with  a  sigh. 

"  Now  that  is  a  true  compliment,"  she  replied,  laughing 
and  springing  up  beside  him,  "  and  I  heartily  echo  your 
exclamation.  What  an  exciting  life  you  have  been  lead- 
ing! I  am  much  interested  in  your  man  Mitchell;  cold- 
blooded individual,  I  imagine." 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know.  Typically  business,  I  should  say. 
I  took  him  to  be  the  shrewd,  unemotional  business  man 
of  New  York." 

"  I  doubt  his  being  a  type.  I  am  acquainted  with  many 
New  York  business  men,  and  I  like  them  exceedingly. 


w\ 


■  1' 


lit 


ll 

A 

■ 

1 

lilt 


■ii 


220 


The  Victors 


However,  a  man  wlin  had  dealitij^'s  with  them,  mijjht  not 
be  of  my  opinion.  We  women,  after  all.  ^el  a  very  one- 
sided view  of  life,  hut  now  and  then  events  come  to  my 
knowledj^a-  that  show  !)usiness  to  be  a  cruel  thinj,'.  My 
father,  who  is  the  best  and  kindest  of  men,  would  crush 
an  opponent  very  ruthlessly,  I  imaprinc.  where  the  inter- 
ests of  his  beloved  n)ad  are  concerned.  That  is  what 
makes  for  success,  I  suppose." 

"  Success  for  he  victors,  yes ;  but  it  seems  a  pity  there 
should  be  any  vanciuished." 
'"I  quite  aj,'ree  with  you." 

They  had  wr.lked  slowly  down  the  hill  to<jether.  with 
none  of  the  eaj,'erness  of  persons  who  e.xpect  important 
messafjes,  and  now  they  had  reached  the  railway  line. 

The  telcjtjraph  operator  came  to  meet  them,  and  Jim 
found  himself  wishint;  that  useful  man  were  not  so  con- 
foundedly officious.  He  handed  Miss  \an  Ness  a 
desi)atch,  which  she  read. 

"  Oh,  my  father  has  ordered  the  superintendent's  pri- 
vate car  to  come  for  me.  and  he  says  it  oujjht  to  reach 
here  within  an  liour  after  this  niessaj^'e.  When  did  the 
telefrram  come?     Ah.  yes,  here's  the  time  at  the  top." 

The  special  will  arrive  in  alwut  fifteen  minutes,  Miss 
Van  Ness.  They  are  running:  it  ripht  through  without 
any  delay.  I  can  tell  you,"  saiil  the  operator. 

When  they  reached  the  waitinjif-room  the  younp  \vo- 
rnan  found  her  forgotten  baj?  awaiting-  her  on  a  bench. 
She  took  her  purse  from  it,  and  a  roll  of  bills  from  the 
purse. 

"  I  wish  you  would  give  these  to  the  hand-car  men," 
she  said  to  the  station-agent. 

■'  Oh,  they're  all  right,"  he  demurred.  "  They  don't  ex- 
pect anything,  and  deserve  nothing;  it's  all  in  the  day's 
work." 

Well,  they  will  be  the  more  surprised,"  she  insisted, 
giving  him  the  money,  and  continued:  "You  mustn't 
think  I  am  going  to  forget  you  or  the  telegraph  clerk 
either.  \i  I  have  any  influence  at  headquarters,  and  I 
think  I  have,  there  will  be  two  promotions." 

"  Well,  miss,  this  isn't  the  liveliest  place  in  the  world, 


"  I  sat  upon  a  promontory  " 


221 

and  I  <Io,rt  tliink  cither  ..f  i,s  w.nil.l  object  to  a  chanire 
'""f.l,  ,r'"*''"=  '"'"'>■  ^"•'"•^■'^  t"  V..U.  Mis  \'an  Xess  " 

lalk  ..f  the  visits  (,f  the  angels."  said  Jin,  when  she 
approached  Inn,  with  a  card  in  her  l,and.  "  You  scatter 
benefactions  wlierever  yuu  j^o." 

••  And  very  pleasant 'thiii.L^s  they  are  to  scatter,  so  here 
IS  yours      I  will  ^^ive  it  to  you  now  for  fear  I   fori-et  it 
later      I  have  written  my  Montreal  address  on  n,v  card 
^  and  thus  I  ^Mve  you  i)ennission  to  call  upon  me.  vour  re- 

ward bein;:  that  I  shall  introduce  vou  to  a  verv"  charm- 
injr  youn^r  ady.  the  daughter  of  tiie  house  where  1  an, 
stayinfT.  1  he,r  customs  are  rather  Kurdish,  and  if  vou 
call  about  hve  o  clock  any  afternoon  I  can  promise  'vou 
afternoon  tea  Perhaps  you  will  let  me  have  vour  card 
ui  ex  :hanj,'e  ?  ' 

X()w  why  should  an  honest  younpr  man  tell  an  untruth 
and  be  afraid  to  confess  his  poverty?  Jin,  stammered 
somethin^r  10  the  effect  that  his  card-case  had  Rone 
throu-:h  with  his  l.a,i,'jrajre  to  Montreal,  whereas  he  never 
possessec  a  card-case  in  his  life,  and  had  no  bairgajTc  to 
check,  lerhaps  the  clear  eyes  of  the  girl  saw  iim/this 
deception  and  perhaps  they  ,lid„'t.  v  )ne  never  can  tell 
exactly  of  what  a  demure-lookin-  maiden  mav  be  think- 
ing. J5ut  Jim  mentally  blessed  the  station-master  for  sav- 
mg  the  situation  by  interrupting  them. 

"Here  comes  the  special,  miss,"  he  said  as  he  picked 
lip  her  salche  .     The  long  whistle  of  the  locomotive  was 
lieard  in  the  distance,  and  prescntlv  the  short  tra-n  com- 
prising engine,  baggage-car.  and  private  coach,  came  to  a 
standstill  at  the  platform.    The  superintendent 's  car  was 
a  sumptuous  carriage,  with  great  plate-glass  windows  on 
either  side,  through  which  Jim  saw  the  luxurious  interior. 
A  table  in  the  centre  had  a  snowv  white  cloth  laid  on  it 
and  from  a  richly-chased  silver  holder  spread  a  Irrge  bou- 
quet of  radiant  flowers.  Silver,  crvstal  and  plate  glittered 
on  the  table,  and  it  was  evident  that  the  occupant  of  the 
coach  was  not  expected  to  starve.     An  exceedingly  black 
ncKro  m  a  white  uniform  stood  upon  the  platform"  of  the 
car,  a  smile  like  a  chalk-mark  spreading  across  his  face. 
He  sprang  nimbly  down  and  placed  a  carpeted  root-stool 


P  i 


222 


The  Victors 


If 


on  the  boards  at  the  bottom  of  the  steps,  then  takings  the 
bag  from  the  station-master,  he  stood  aside  deferentially 
as  Miss  Van  Ness  sprang  lightly  up  tho  short  stair. 

"  Good-bye,  Miss  Van  Xess,"  said  Jim,  holding  out  his 
hand. 

The  girl  stopped  and  turned  quickly,  a  flash  of  surprise 
in  her  eyes.    "  Why,  you  are  coming?  " 

"  No.    I  shall  wait  for  the  local." 

"  Nonsense !  This  special  will  get  into  Montreal  hours 
before  the  local,  or  any  other  train  on  the  road.  Of 
course  you  are  coming." 

It  would  have  been  difficult,  perhaps,  for  Jim  to  explain 
his  state  of  mind,  and  inijxjs^ible  for  his  historian  to  give 
any  sane  reason  for  his  conduct.  It  seemed  a  sudden  im- 
pulse, hardening  as  suddenly  into  irrevocable  resolution. 
He  had  quite  intended  all  along  to  go  with  her  to  Mont- 
real, and  had  been  congratulating  himself  on  a  pleasant 
journey  with  a  charming  companion,  yet  here,  almost  in 
spite  of  himself,  he  had  swiftly  arrived  at  a  determina- 
tion not  to  enter  that  car,  and  he  knew  quite  well  no  per- 
suasion would  overcome  it,  pitying  himself  that  such 
was  the  case,  for  of  all  things  on  earth  he  most  desired 
was  to  do  what  he  had  just  said  he  would  not. 

The  girl  stood  on  the  platform,  her  small,  daintily 
gloved  hands  resting  on  the  silver-plated  rail,  and  looked 
down  on  him  with  wonder  in  her  wide-open  eyes  and  a 
little  line  of  perplexity  on  her  smooth,  fair  brow. 

"  It  is  very  kind  of  you  to  invite  me.  Miss  Van  Ness, 
but  I'm  really  in  no  hurry — and — and — as  you  suggested 
this  morning,  I — reserve  my  right  of  action  against  the 
road  for  delaying  me,  and  so,  you  see — " 

"  I  see  that  you  are  not  very  logical,  Mr.  Monro.  You 
are  in  no  hurry,  yet  you  talk  of  an  action  for  delay.  Isn't 
the  road  doing  all  it  can  to  make  amends  for  what  was, 
after  all,  an  accident  ? " 

"  Oh,  the  road  isn't  sending  this  car  for  me." 

"  Yes,  it  is.  You  had  better  change  your  mind,  Mr. 
Monro." 

Jim  smiled  the  forlorn  smile  of  a  man  with  a  toothache 
and  shook  his  head  sadly,  inwardly  maligning  himself  as 


!  r 


"I  sat  upon  a  promontory"  223 

a  boorish  imbecile ;  sorry  for  himself,  yet  unable  to  over- 
come his  own  obstinacy.  He  glanced  up  at  her  and  saw 
a  misty  film  dim  the  brightness  of  her  eyes ;  then  she  drew 
herself  up  proudly  from  the  bending  position  that  had 
something  of  beseechment  in  it. 

"  Oh,  very  well,"  she  said  coldly;  then  with  exuberant 
vivacity  cried  to  the  station-master: 

"  Thank  you  ever  so  much  for  your  kindness.  I  shall 
not  forget.    Please  tell  the  engine-driver  to  go  ahead." 

The  engineer  had  been  hanging  out  of  the  cab  window 
loo!-mg  to  the  rear  of  his  short  train.  The  station-master 
held  his  arm  aloft  a-.d  let  it  drop  like  a  semaphore. 

"  All  right,  Billy !  "  he  shouted,  and  the  unseen  hand  of 
the  engineer  gave  a  tug  at  the  whistle  rope,  his  own  head 
and  shoulders  disappearing.  The  car  began  to  glide  awav 
as  srnoothly  as  a  launching  ship,  and  Jim  felt  a  madden- 
ing impulse  to  run  after  it  and  swing  himself  aboard, 
but  he  stood  stock  still.  Miss  \'an  Ness  seemed  about  to 
withdraw  without  further  greeting,  but  she  half  turned 
and  again  faced  him. 

"  Good-bye,  Mr.  Monro."  she  said. 

"  Good-bye.  Miss  Van  Ness." 

She  entered  the  car,  but  looked  back  once  more  from 
the  doorway,  and  Jim,  standing  bareheaded,  saw  the  flut- 
ter of  a  white  handkerchief  from  the  rapidly  lessening  end 
of  the  car.  He  waved  his  hat  as  the  door  closed  and  the 
special  whisked  out  of  sight  round  the  promontory, 

'<!  ^°"~'^'^"i"<^'^l— fool !  "   he  growled  to  himself. 

"What  did  you  say,  sir?"  asked  the  amazed  station- 
master,  with  a  threat  in  his  voice. 

"  I  wasn't  talking  to  you.  What  time  does  the  local 
stop  here  ?  " 

'■  It  doesn't  stop  here.    I  told  you  that  before." 

"  But  you  said  you  would  flag  it." 

"  I  said  I'd  flag'it  for  Miss  Van  Ness.  I  didn't  say  I'd 
flag  it  for  you." 

"  Now,  look  here,  my  man,  don't  make  any  mistake 
about  this.  I'm  stranded  here  through  the  fault  of  your 
company ;  if  you've  the  least  doubt  about  flagging  that 
train  for  me,  you  had  better  telegraph  and  find  out.    If 


224 


The  Victors 


you  are  expecting  promotion  don't  make  it  difficult  for 
JMiss  Van  Xess  by  committing  an  unnecessary  error." 

The  station-master  scratched  his  chin  and  concluded 
that  this  was  not  bad  advice.  He  telegraphed,  and  shortly 
after  came  out  to  a  very  dissatisfied  man  and  said  to 
him : 

"  The  local  has  orders  to  stop  here  and  pick  you  up, 
sir." 

"  All  right,"  commented  Jim.  Then  he  went  down  to 
the  margin  of  the  lake  and  sombrely  threw  stones  into  the 
water,  cursing  himself  as  the  greatest  simpleton  in  al  the 
land,  with  which  estimate  many  of  us  will  find  little  dif- 
ficulty in  agreeing. 


SHi 


'*m±-: 


CHAPTER  V 

"first,    sir,    I    PRAY,    WHAT    IS    YOUR   TITLE?" 

WoNDERFif,  arc  the  facilit'es  possessed  by  these  rail- 
way people.  They  own  the  modern  equivalent  of  the 
flying  carpet,  wliich  made  travelling  easy  when  the  stories 
of  the  Arabian  Nights  were  first  related.  As  the  special 
sped  along  the  rails  with  a  clear  right  of  way,  Grace  Van 
Ness  wandered  somewhat  aimlessly  round  the  s|)acious 
saloon  of  the  private  car,  now  burying  her  face  in  the  fra- 
grant bouquet,  now  selecting  a  volume  from  the  little 
bookcase  in  the  corner,  now  sitting  at  the  piano  and  strik- 
ing a  few  chords,  now  settling  herself  in  a  comfortable 
rocking-chair,  trying  to  become  'ntercsted  in  a  book,  and 
failing.  The  rocker  proved  unsuitable  because  of  the 
swaying  of  the  car,  and  the  porter,  who  hovered  about, 
anxious  to  be  of  service,  placed  a  cane  chair  by  the  great 
sheet  of  plate-glass,  arranged  the  cushions  dexteriously, 
and  there  she  sat,  quiet  at  last,  resting  her  chin  on  her 
hand,  gazing  out  at  the  scenery.  Stations  flashed  past  of 
no  particular  interest,  for  the  special  was  not  timed  to  halt 
at  any  of  them  ;  but  suddenly  there  came  a  shudder  of  the 
brake  and  a  slowing  down  of  the  train,  which  paused 
rather  than  stopped,  while  a  bareheaded  man  handed  up 
an  envelope  to  the  porter.  It  was  a  telegram  for  Grace 
Van  Ness  from  Sir  Murray  Henderson,  the  Canadian 
railway  magnate,  her  Montreal  host.  The  dispatch  in- 
formed her  that  he  had  received  her  message  and  that  he 
had  been  in  communication  with  her  father,  offering  the 
hospitality  of  his  own  private  car  before  learning  that  the 
superintendent's  was  already  on  the  way.  His  daughter 
Gussie,  however,  was  not  to  be  deprived  of  her  expected 
journey,  so  Sir  Murray  and  she  would  be  waiting  for 
Miss  Van  Ness  when  the  special  reached  the  Canadian 

225 


m 


ff  i 


226 


The  Victors 


border  line,  and  if  sh<,  would  be  good  enough  to  join 
them,  the  superintendent's  car  might  return  to  Platts- 
burgh,  to  be  ready  for  the  next  damsel  errant  who  be- 
came mislaid  on  the  Montreal-New  York  r  "Iway  sys- 
tem. 

For  the  first  time  since  she  entered  the  car  the  girl 
smiled  as  she  read  the  genial  baronet's  jovial  letter,  for  it 
was  as  long  as  a  letter,  so  reckless  are  magnates  in  the 
use  of  electricity.  Then  she  murmured  to  herself:  "  I'm 
glad  he  didn't  come,  after  all." 

When  the  special  was  brought  to  a  stand  at  the  frontier 
station,  Grace  found  her  friend  Gussie  Henderson  waiting 
with  her  father.  The  girls  greeted  each  other  warmly,  in 
the  emotional  fashion  of  feminine  human  nature ;  then  the 
New  Yorker  impulsively  stretchec.  out  her  hands  to  the 
florid-faced  great  man  with  whit  •  bushy  side-whiskers, 
which  emphasised  the  ruddy  complexion  they  framed. 

"  Why,  Sir  Murray !  "  she  cried,  "  Sir  Murray  Hen- 
derson! I  shall  keep  on  repeating  that  name  all  day. 
And  you  don't  seem  a  bit  changed  either.  I  expected  jou 
to  be  ever  so  formal.  I  didn't  know  but  I  should  have  to 
kneel,  or  curtsy,  or  do  somethi  .j  old-fashioned  when  I 
met  you  again.    Doesn't  it  make  a  difference  ? " 

"  Now,  you  young  minx,"  laughed  the  celebrity  in  a 
bluflf  large-hearted  way,  "  you  are  not  to  begin  on  me  in 
this  fashion.  I've  had  enough  of  it.  That's  the  disad- 
vantage of  living  so  close  to  a  republic.  You  have  no 
respect  for — " 

"  Oh,  but  I  have,"  interrupted  the  girl  breathlessly. 
"  I'm  quite  ready  to  kneel  right  here  on  these  boards,  if 
it  is  the  proper  thing  tc  do,  Sir  Murray.  Why,  I've  been 
going  about  New  York  two  inches  taller  ever  since  I 
heard  that  you  were  made  a  baronet ;  and  boasting,  too ; 
saying  carelessly,  as  if  it  were  a  small  matter,  "  Sir  Mur- 
ray Henderson,  K.  C.  B.,  has  invited  me  to — " 

"  There  isn't  any  K.  C.  B.,  you  goose." 

"  Well,  there  is,  when  I  speak  of  you.  It's  all  right — 
merely  a  division  of  labour.  The  Queen  gives  you  the 
*  Sir,'  and  I  give  you  the  K.  C.  B.  I  tell  you,  we  women 
spoil  you  between  us,  don't  we,  Gussie  ?  " 


"  First,  sir,  I  pray,  what  is  your  title  ?"     227 

She  tucked  her  hand  under  his  arm,  snuggling  up  to 
him,  while  his  daughter  occupied  a  similar  position  on  the 
other  side,  and,  the  old  man  chuckling  with  much  good- 
nature, they  walked  up  the  platform  to  his  private  car, 
which  was  in  waiting  for  them. 

"  I  suppose  your  luggage  has  gone  on,"  he  said. 

"  My  luggage !  How  lovely  that  sounds !  Yes,  it  was 
checked  through,  although  it  was  only  baggage  when  it 
started." 

You're  a  baggage  yourself,  and  I  know  I'm  in  for  a 
dreadful  time,  you  disrespectful  little  Yank." 

"  Thank  you.  Sir  Murray ;  and  is  I  ady  Murray  quite 
well  ?" 

''  Lady  Henderson,  if  you  don't  mind." 

"  Oh,  that's  it,  is  it  ?  How  does  your  mother  stand  it, 
Gussie  ?  And,  Gussie,  what  are  you  ?  Don't  you  and  I 
get  any  reflected  glory  out  of  all  this  ?  I  thought  I  might 
become  the  Honourable  Grace  Van  Ness,  at  least  just 
on  the  score  of  old  friendship." 

"  Oh,  I  guess  we  could  manage  that  with  a  '  dis,'  for 
you  do  take  a  most  dishonourable  advantage  of  an  old 
man  who  can't  help  himself,"  growled  the  new  baronet. 

"You  shouldn't  say  'I  guess,'  Sir  Murray.  I  don't 
know  much  about  the  rules  of  knighthood,  but  I  am  sure 
'  I  guess'  is  eliminated." 

By  this  time  they  were  comfortably  settled  in  the 
drawing-room  of  Sir  Murray's  car,  an  apartment  less 
gaudy  perhaps  than  the  one  she  had  just  quitted,  but 
rich  and  homelike  in  its  appointments,  differing  from  the 
other  as  a  residence  differs  from  a  hotel.  A  table  wras 
laid  for  tea,  the  silver  urn  steaming  over  a  spirit  lamp ; 
instead  of  a  negro  there  was  a  trim  maid-servant  in  white 
cap  and  apron,  who,  with  quiet  deftness,  performed  the 
services  required  of  her. 

"  Tea  is  quite  ready,  sir,"  she  said,  in  a  subdued  tone, 
with  a  slight  accent  on  the  '  quite '  that  fell  on  the  sensi- 
tive ears  of  Miss  Van  Ness  with  a  suggestion  of  some- 
thing foreign. 

"  And  now,  "[Irace,"  said  the  railway  man  with  a  sigh 
of  relief  that  he  was  thus  deftly  escap'ing  further  banter 


•  'l^ 


u 


228 


The  Victors 


Mi ' 

:  1  ; 

? 

1  • 

; 

i 

m 

a. 

what  I  want  to  '  .low  is, 


on  his  newly-acquired  title, 
what  happened?  " 

"  Precisely  what  I  want  to  know,  too,  Sir  Murray  Of 
course  I've  read  it  up.  You  knelt,  and  her  majesty 
tapped  you  hsrhtly  on  the  shoulder  with  a  real  sword  and 
said,  x^ise.  Sir  AJurray  Henderson,"  and  you  rose  grace- 
fully, I  hope.  And  where  did  this  take  place:  at  Wind- 
sor castle  or  at  Buckingham  palace?  At  Windsor  castle 
I  trust,  but  then  I  don't  know.  I  shouldn't  be  able  to 
make  up  my  mind  if  I  had  the  choice,  which  I  suppose 
you  hadn't,  and  that  takes  such  a  weight  off  one's  mind. 
Do  tell  me  all  about  it.  Don't  you  see  I'm  just  dying  to 
hear  the  particulars." 

"  Xow,  my  girl.  I  give  you  fair  warning,  I'll  lock  you 
up  in  the  pantry  if  you  keep  on." 

''  Can  a  baronet  do  that  ?    My !  " 

''  Yes,  he  can,  when  he's  scoffed  at  in  his  own  car." 

"  But  not  the  pantry,  Sir  Murray.  Surely  you've  Iiad 
a  new  dungeon  put  on  since  you  returned  from  Eng- 
land ?  " 

"  You'll  find  it  dungeon  enough  when  you  exasperate 
me  sufficiently.  Why  don't  you  respect  our  cherished  in- 
stitutions? Goodness  knows  you  people  are  sensitive 
enough  atout  your  own  when  any  foreigner  lays  hands  on 
them." 

"  Why,  Sir  Murray,  you  persist  in  destroying  my  best 
loved  ideals.  Do  you  know,  I  have  long  thought  that 
republics  stand  in  their  own  light  by  not  bestowing 
titles;  it  is  such  a  cheap  system  of  prize-giving — " 

"  There  you  go  again.  Now,  that's  pure  feminine  envy, 
m  the  guise  of  a  lofty  down-looking  on  masculine  vanity, 
-i  cheap  system  indeed !    I  like  the  cheek  of  that." 

"  Well,  you  must  admit  it's  cheap,  because  it  doesn't 
cost  the  government  anything.  That's  where  it  differs 
from  a  pension  list.  Indeed  I  believe  it  brings  in  a  revenue 
to  the  government.  In  a  lx)ok  I  have  read  on  the  subject 
It  says  something  about  newly-made  nobles  having  to  pay 
certain  fees,  I  forget  how  much  or  what  for,  but  I'm  iii 
right  down  earnest.  Our  country  is  like  a  paper  that 
gives  only  money  prizes.     Over  sixty  thousand  persons 


"  First,  sir,  I  pray,  what  Is  your  title  ?"     229 

crowd  into  Washington  to  secure  the  salaries  when- 
ever a  new  President  is  elected;  office-seekers,  we  call 
them,  and  I  think  it  pitiful,  for  tliev  are  sixty  thousand 
confessed  failures  who  look  to  the  government  to  support 
them;  sixty  thousand  persons  who  admit  they  cannot 
make  money  enough  to  support  themselves.  I  think  it 
lowering  to  the  dignity  and  moral  tone  of  the  country 
that  Its  prizes  are  all  in  cash.  We  always  estimate  suc- 
cess m  dollars.  Now,  the  noble  things  of  life  are  not  done 
for  money.  A  soldier  does  not  lead  a  forlorn  hope  for 
what  there  is  to  be  made  out  of  it.  If  we  women  ever  get 
mto  power  at  Washington,  we'll  change  all  that." 

"You  women  are  in  power,  my  dear,  everywhere.  Just 
notice  how  I  am  hanging  on  your  words." 

"You  listen  to  us,  but  you  won't  act  on  our  suggestions 
until  we  have  votes.  When  that  time  comes,  beware. 
Every  woman  is  at  heart — " 

"  Now,  Grace,  stop.  Don't  quote  Pope's  libellous  line 
m  my  hearing." 

" — Is  at  heart  an  aristocrat,  Sir  Murray.  We  are 
not  a  bit  republican,  although  we  sometimes'  pretend  to 
be." 

"  Let's  see,  Gussie ;  isn't  there  a  lord  or  two  on  that 
committee  sent  out  from  England  to  investigate  our  rail- 
way affairs  ?  "  asked  Sir  Murray  suavely. 

II  Only  one,  father,  and  he  is'sixty  years  old." 

"  Dear  me,  so  he  is.  I'm  very  sorry,  Grace,  for  I  really 
wanted  to  reserve  one  for  you,  but  I  believe  we  are  a  lit- 
tle short  of  lords  in  Montreal  just  now.  You  see,  they 
all  go  to  New  York  and  Newport." 

"  Couldn't  you  get  your  sixty-year-old  noble  to  adopt 
me  ?  Surely  such  an  ingenious  man  as  Sir  Murray  Hen- 
derson is  not  going  to  be  defeated  by  a  mere  temporary 
scarcity." 

"  By  Jove,  I'll  import  one ;  there's  no  duty  on  'em.  But 
with  all  this  inconsequential  talk  we  are  missing  the  im- 
portant point.  I  did  not  quite  understand  from  our  tele- 
gram exactly  what  took  place.  Was  there  an  accident? 
How  came  you  to  be  left  behind?" 

"  That  doesn't  happen  very  often,  does  it.  Sir  Murray? 


t  a 


'f:i 


230 


The  Victors 


i 


P 


W 


Ml  .  ,■ 


There  was  a  broken  wheel  on  the  sleeper.  I  imagine  we 
were  in  the  thick  of  a  iog,  and  that  tliev  feared  the  on- 
coming of  another  train,  so  they  werj  naturally  in  a 
hurry.  They  side-tracked  the  sleeper  in  a  gravel-pit,  and 
moved  out  the  passengers  as  quickly  as  possible.  Luckily 
the  broken  wheel  was  on  the  last  coach,  which  made  the 
side-tracking  speedy.  I  occui)ied  the  drawing-room,  and 
thus  was  overlooked." 

"  What  a  remarkable  thing !  There  was  no  one  t  e  left 
behind,  of  course  ?  " 

"  You  see  my  maid  slept  in  the  next  car  forward,  other- 
wise there  would  have  been  two  of  us.  In  fact  if  she  had 
been  in  my  car  and  had  bwn  awakened  she  would  never 
have  gone  away  without  nic,  and  so  even  I  should  not 
have  been  overlooked," 

"  Weren't  you  frightened  when  you  awoke  and  found 
yourself  alone  ?  "  Gussie  inquired. 

"  Oh,  not  at  all.  It  was  broad  davlight,  and  a  moment's 
investigation  showed  me  what  had  occurred." 

"  Had  you  nothing  to  eat  till  the  special  came  ?  I  sup- 
pose you  walked  on  to  the  nearest  station." 

"  Yes,  but  it  wasn't  far.  and  the  men  at  the  Junction 
were  very  kind.  A  farmhouse  woman  provided  me  with 
breakfast." 

Gussie  gazed  admiringly  with  wide-open  eyes  at  the 
heroine  of  such  an  adventure.  She  was  a  quiet  girl,  and 
spent  her  time  in  absorbed  contemplation  of  her  vivacious 
friend,  who  now  and  then  smiled  confidingly  at  her 

When  they  reached  Montreal  Sir  Murray's  carriage  was 
waiting  for  them,  and  it  took  them  quickly  through  the 
city,  and  then  more  slowly  up  the  steep  mountain  street 
to  the  commodious  stone-built  mansion  that  was  to  be  the 
temporary  home  of  Grace  Van  Ness.  Her  room  had 
large  windows  giving  a  wide  view  over  the  spreading- 
city,  with  the  blue  waters  of  the  broad  St.  Lawrence  be*^ 
yond,  crossed  by  the  long  line  of  the  Victoria  bridge,  dis- 
tance mitigating  in  some  measure  its  extreme  utilitarian 
ugliness.  Grace  Van  Ness  was  standing  at  the  window 
gazing  at  the  view  when  the  door  opened,  and  Gussie 
came  in. 


•'  First,  sir,  I  pray,  what  is  your  title  ?"      231 

"  O,  (Jracc,"  she  cried  broathlcsslv.  "  I  liavc  such  a 
secret  to  tell  vou.  I  was  afraid  to  speak  al>ove  a  whisper 
in  the  car  i)ccause  father  niij,dit  ,;ucss  that  I  knew.  But 
now  that  we  are  alunc— It's  all  about  you,  Grace." 

"  Dear  me!  "  exclaimed  Crace.  turninjj  to  her  excited 
visitor.    "  Xothins:  dreadful.  I  hope." 

"  I'erhaps  you  can  j^niess  it."  Gussie  naturally  wished 
to  make  the  most  of  her  discovery,  and  expected  at  least 
payment  in  the  interest  and  attention  of  her  listener.  "  It's 
about  you  and  a  youn.cf  man." 

"  Oh,"  whispered  (Jrace,  with  somethinjj^  like  a  gasp. 
Had  Sir  IMurray,  then,  learned  that  a  young-  man  had 
been  left  in  the  sleeping-car.  and  were  her  evasions  when 
questioned  entirely  futile?  With  knitted  brow  she 
rapidly  ran  over  in  her  mind  what  had  been  said  on  the 
subject  of  the  accident.  She  thought  she  had  given  no 
clew,  but  was  not  sure.  Gussie  regarded  her  with  de- 
lighted and  absorbe<l  attention  ;  she  now  had  no  complaint 
to  make  of  interest  lacking. 

"  I  see  you  know  whom  I  mean.  O.  Grace,  you  must 
tell  me  about  him.    Is  he  good-looking?  " 

"  Passably ;  yes.  I  think  he  is  good-looking— as  men 
go-" 

"  And  talks  well  ?  I  do  like  men  who  talk  well.  I 
could  listen  all  day." 

"  Yes,  he  talks  well  enough.  I've  promised  to  in- 
troduce him  to  you,  so  you  can  judge  for  yourself, 
Gussie." 

*'  O.  Grace,  is  he  coming  to  Montreal?" 

"Why.  of  course." 

"  Then  the  plot  will  fail.  O,  dear  Grace,  I'm  so  glad. 
That's  just  as  it  is  in  books,  only  there's  lots  and  lots  of 
difficulties  before  it  gets  so  far." 

"  What  plot  ?    Gussie.  what  arc  you  talking  about  ?  " 

"  Dearest  (irace.  won't  you  make  me  your  confidante? 
Interesting  girls  like  you  always  have  a  confidante,  only 
most  confidantes  betray,  but  that  I'll  never  do.  I'll  plan 
and  scheme,  and  we'll  have  secret  meetings  up  on  the 
top  of  the  mountain,  which  is  a  splendid  place,  with  such 
a  view !  " 


■  H 


I 


i! 


232 


The  Victors 


11 


"  I  shall  call  you  poosie  instead  of  Gussie  in  a  mo- 
ment if  you  keep  on  like  that.  There  will  be  no  secret 
meetinjjs.    I  asked  the  young  man  to  call  on  me  here." 

"  Hut  that  would  never,  never  do,  Grace.  Mr.  Van 
Ness  will  discover  all,  for  father  is  sure  to  write  to  him." 

"Well,  what  of  it?    I  shouldn't  mind." 

"  Oh,  that's  because  you  don't  know.  I  suppose  you 
would  never  guess  why  your  father  sent  you  here." 

"  Papa?  He  didn't.  I  wanted  to  come  myself  and  see 
you.  I  think  he  suggested  my  coming,  but  I'm  not  even 
sure  of  that.  He  spoke  of  my  going  to  Europe  this  sum- 
mer, but  I  believe  I  proposed  Canada  myself." 

"  O,  you  poor,  persecutetl  girl,  you  have  no  idea  of  the 
web  that  has  been  woven  round  you ;  but  I  have  discov- 
ered all  their  machinations,  and  we  will  circumvent  them 
yet.  Do  you  love  him  very  much  ?  You  won't  forget  him, 
will  you,  Grace,  and  when  you  write  to  him  I  will  carry 
your  letters,   for  they  will  never  suspect  me." 

Grace  sat  down  by  the  table,  rested  her  elbows  on  it, 
with  her  chin  in  her  hands,  and  looked  across  at  her 
friend  with  an  amused  twinkle  in  her  eyes. 

"  I  suspect  you,  Gussie.  I  suspect  that  you  have  been 
reading  too  many  sensational  novels.  Will  you  tell  me  in 
plain  words  what  it  is  that  you  have  discovered?  " 

"  It's  about  Vincent  St.  John.     Now  do  you  know?  " 

Grace  leaned  back  in  her  chair  and  sighed,  but  the  sigh 
was  one  of  relief,  although  Gussie  did  not  so  interpret 
it. 

"  What  about  poor  Yin  ?  Papa  never  liked  him,  and 
yet  he  is  reasonably  well-to-do.  even  rich,  if  he  manages 
to  keep  his  money,  and  harsh  fathers  are  supposed  to  ob- 
ject to  the  penniless  young  man.  Tell  me  all,  Gi  oie;  I 
have  strength  to  bear  it." 

"  Well,  quite  accidentally,  you  know,  I  overheard  father 
and  mother  talking  about  your  coming  here,  and  of 
course  I  was  interested.  It  seems  your  father  is  afraid 
you  and  Mr.  St.  John  are  becoming  too  much  attached 
to  each  other,  so  he  arranged  for  you  to  come  here  that 
you  might  forget  him.  But  you  won't,  will  you, 
Grace?" 


"  First,  sir,  I  pi  ay,  what  is  your  title  ?"    233 

"  Did  my  father  write  to  yours,  then,  on  this  subject?  " 

"  I  think  it  was  my  mother  whom  he  talked  with,  the 
last  time  she  wcs  in  New  York,  for  she  was  warning 
father  not  to  say  anything  jocular  about  young  men 
when  you  were  here,  otherwise  you  might  not  forget. 
And  then  she  told  him  about  Vincent  St.  John." 

"  Poor  papa !  As  I  have  no  mother  of  my  own.  he 
is  anxious  about  me.  and  takes  counsel  of  other  people's 
mothers.  He  would  have  greater  peace  of  mind  "if  he 
consulted  with  me,  but  he's  so  bashful  he's  afraid  to  begin 
a  conversation  on  such  delicate  subjects  as  love  and  pos- 
sible marriage." 

'•  Who  is  bashful?    Mr.  Van  Ness?" 

"  Yes,  the  dear  man.  He  reminds  me  of  a  school- 
boy." 

"  But  surely,  Grace,  you  are  not  going  to  desert  the 
man  you  love,  and  who  loves  vou,  at  the  dictation  of  yo,ir 
father?" 

"  Ah,  that's  the  novel  again,  fnissie.  Papa  would 
never  dictate  to  me  unless  I  became  his  typewriter,  which 
is  not  likely.  And  who  is  more  devoted  to  me  than  mv 
own  fathe  "^  Why.  he  loves  me  better  than  his  Xortli 
Star  expr  ,  and  he  keeps  awake  nights  thinking  of  that. 
No.  the  "  ^  nation  will  be  the  other  way  about.  Gussie.  If 
ever  thin..;s  come  to  a  crisis  with  me,  Pll  drive  my  dear 
papa  into  a  corner  where  he  can't  escape,  and  then  de- 
cisively patting  my  forefinger  on  my  open  palm,  like  this, 
ril  say.  '  You  must  face  Mie  music,  papa.  Your  only 
daughter  is  in  love,  and  wishes  to  discuss  the  young  man 
\v\ih  you.'  Then  papa  will  become  confused,  will  blush 
like  a  girl,  will  try  to  get  away  on  a  mythical  engagement, 
will  look  everywhere  in  the  room  except  at  his  daughter, 
and  so  at  last  we'll  have  a  nice  friendly  talk  about  it,' 
when  he  finds  there  is  no  way  of  avoiding  it." 

"  But  surely,  Grace,  vou  are  not  going  to  fortjet  Vincent 
St.  John." 

Grace  interlaced  her  fingers  at  the  back  of  her  neck, 
and  dreamily  studied  the  dim  blue  hills  far  beyond  the  St. 
Lawrence.    Gussie  gazed  at  her  anxioush, . 

"  I  am  sorry,  Gussie,  to  fall  so  far  short  of  your  antici- 


234 


The  Victors 


I   I 


pations,  but  to  tell  the  honest  truth,  I  had  completely  N  - 
gotten  him  until  you  mentioned  his  name.  The  .cci.  xnt 
on  the  road  must  have  had  somethinfj  to  do  wit.  •  -i 
began  to  forget  him  while  walking  along  the  mai.,*u  of 
the  lake  toward  the  Junction." 


i 


CHAPTER   VI 


i 


"l    IIAVK    A    nAC.   OF    MONICY    IIEKK   THAT    TROl'IJLES    ME" 

The  local  train  fjavc  James  Monro  ample  time  for  re- 
flection before  it  ultimately  landed  him  in  Montreal,  with 
a  ddatoriness  that  borrowed  something  like  an  hour  from 
Its  own  deliberate  time  allowance.     The  subject  of  his 
meditation  was  chiefly  his  own  stupidity,  and  his  min.l 
tilled  m  the  mtervals,  when  this  theme  palled  on  him   by 
debating  whether  or  not  he  should  call  on  Miss  Van  Xess 
when  he  arrived  at  the  northern  city.     She  had  asked 
him  to  call,  and  had  even  gone  so  far  as  to  name  the 
hour,  but  that  was  before  she  learned  he  did  not  intend 
to  take  advantage  of  the  special  train.    Perhaps  the  young 
woman  was  justly  oflfended  at  his  boorishness,  and  would 
give  him  but  a  cold  welcome  if  he  attempted  to  proceed 
further  with  the  acquaintance.     And  then,  he  retlectcd 
there  was  but  little  use  of  a  man  in  his  position,  with' 
practically  no  money,  lacking  even  a  permanent  situation 
venturing  to  acquire  friendship  with  a  frivolous  fashion- 
able girl  of  New  York,  whose  father  was  reputed  to  be  a 
millionaire.     Like  other  vanities  of  life,  friendship  with 
the  rich  costs  money,  and  Jim  had  no  moncv  to  spare 
1  at  Maguire  might  have  seen  a  great  oi^portunity  here 
and  would  doubtless  have  followed  it  with  an  enthusiasm' 
all  his  own,  but  Jim,  like  all  American  voung  men.  iiad  a 
subhme  faith  that  he  would  be  rich  one  ilay  through  his 
own  efforts,  and  this  goal  was  so  certain  of  attainment 
that  the  ways  and  means  of  reaching  it  troubled  him  but 
httle,  so  that  the  idea  of  utilising  a  chance  acquaintance  in 
any  way  to  furthei-  his  own  interests  never  even  occurred 
to  him.     The  self-confidence  of  an  American  vouth  with 
reference    to   his    future    career    is    something    c-'-losial 
Nature,   in  permitting  or  arranging  for  thi's   state  of 

235 


236 


The  Victors 


mind,  seems  desirous  of  setting  up  a  mental  phe- 
nomenon that  will  bear  some  resemblance  to  the  physi- 
cal grandeur  of  Niagara  or  the  Yosemite.  The  young 
man  is  not  only  positive  he  will  speedily  accumu- 
late a  fortune,  but  regards  with  equanimity  the  possible 
loss  of  it  and  looks  forward  with  firm  assurance  to  the 
making  of  a  bigger  one  shortly  after.  He  jauntily  throws 
away  chatices  that  a  citizen  of  a  less  favoured  country 
would  grasp  with  pathetic  eagerness,  as  the  emigrant, 
newly  arrived,  ignored  the  gold  piece  lying  on  the  pave- 
ment, not  wishing  to  bother  about  trifles,  as  he  intended 
to  fill  his  pockets  when  he  came  to  the  pile. 

In  the  midst  of  his  cogitations  Jim  thrust  his  hand 
against  something  unaccustomed  and  drew  from  his 
pocket  a  book  bound  in  limp  leather,  which  he  viewed 
with  perplexed  brow  for  a  moment,  wondering  how  it 
came  into  his  possession.  It  was  Traut wine's  treatise  on 
surveying,  and  a  glance  at  its  title  brought  to  his  mind 
the  strange  creature  who  had  given  it  to  him,  with  the  in- 
junction that  he  should  spend  some  odd  moments  study- 
ing it.  He  tried  to  do  so,  but  civil  engineering  suggested 
the  subject  of  the  railway,  which  suggested  the  subject  of 
the  manager,  which  suggested  the  subject  of  the 
manager's  daughter,  whereupon  the  book  closed  of  itself 
and  slid  back  into  *he  coat  pocket.  Trautwine,  good 
mathematical  man,  probably  never  intended  his  dark 
cover  to  come  into  competition  with  a  pair  of  hazel  eyes, 
from  which  contest  it  has  probably  retired  defeated  many 
a  time  since  then. 

But,  long  as  the  journey  was,  Jim  had  not  settled  upon 
any  particular  course  to  oursue  when  the  train  rumbled 
into  the  window-checkered  darkness  of  that  long  artificial 
tunnel  called  the  Victoria  bridge.  He  thought  with  a 
sigh  that  all  engineers  were  alike,  Trautwine  no  worse 
than  his  fellows,  for  here  was  a  chance  of  an  unexampled 
view  of  river,  city  and  mountain  ;  but  Stephenson  could  do 
nothing  better  with  his  train  than  shut  it  up  in  a  long 
box  while  it  was  crossing,  thus  treating  the  passengers  to 
a  season  of  blinking  blindness. 

Once  arrived,  the  young  man  set  himself  to  the  finding 


•'  I  have  a  bag  of  money  here  "  237 

of  a  hotel  that  would  not  be  so  dear  as  to  be  ruinous  nor 
so  cheap  as  to  be  unsafe.    Having  suited  himself,  he  'tele- 
graphed his  address  to  New  York,  adding  that  he  had 
been  delayed  by  a  break-down  of  the  train.    This  done 
he  found  a  tador  who  seemed  to  be  in  a  sufficiently 
fashionable  way  of  business,  and  had  himself  measured 
for  a  suit  of  clothes,  which  was  ^n  outlay  he  had  not 
counted  upon  when  he  left  New  York.    He  told  himself 
that  he  had  just  remembered  Montreal  was  a  cheaper 
place  in  which  to  order  clothes  than  New  iork  and  so 
with  httle  regard  to  the  revenue  requirements  of'  his  own 
country,  he  resolved  to  take  back  some  clothing  with  him. 
Yet  his  talk  with  the  tailor  showed  an  anxiety  for  stvle 
rather  than  for  economy. 

While  the  suit  was  being  made  he  studie..!  civil  en- 
gineering on  those  occasions  when  his  mind  was  not  taken 
up  with  the  problem  whether  he  should  call  at  the  resi- 
dence of  Sir  Murray  Henderson  or  not.  He  passed  that 
palatial  mansion  several  times  in  his  walks  abroad,  al- 
though his  hotel  was  far  from  it,  in  the  lower  part  of 
the  town.  Once  or  twice  he  heard  the  laughter  of  ladies 
from  the  lawn,  but  fence  and  hedge  interfered  with  sight 
if  they  offered  no  barrier  to  sound,  and  the  young  man 
hurried  on  with  the  guilty  feeling  of  one  caught  eaves- 
dropping. 

The  route,  however,  took  him  past  McGill  College,  and 
being  so  recently  from  a  much  less  celebrated  seat  of 
learning,  it  occurred  to  him  that  he  might  do  worse  than 
explore  the  university  grounds.     As  one  thing  leads  to 
another,  this  visit  resulted  in  his  acquaintance  with  a 
young  provincial   land   surveyor,   who  gave   him   some 
private  lessons  in  the  use  of  the  theodolite,  and  elucidated 
a  few  of  the  problems  that  the  solid  Trautwine  had  pre- 
sented in  vain  to  his  comprehension.    The  spoken  word 
is  a  wonderful  solvent  where  dry  mathematics  are  con- 
cerned, and  thus  Jim  felt  that  he  was  not  wasting  his 
time.     There  was  no  news  from  New  York,  and  the  mys- 
terious stranger  had  not  yet  called  for  the  sealed  packet, 
which  the  young  man  kept  securely  in  his  inside  pocket' 
At   last,   finding  that   it   destroyed   the   contour  of  his 


i   f 


i  I 


il 


!j| 


. 


238 


The  Victors 


neatly  fitting  new  coat,  he  did  what  he  shmiUl  have  done 
when  he  arrived :  lodged  it  in  the  hotel  safe  and  took  a 
receipt. 

But  not  even  the  skill  of  the  tailor  sufficed  to  carry  Jim 
up  the  gravelled  drive  that  led  to  the  front  door  of  Sir 
Murray's  residence.  It  was  his  card  that  enacted  the 
well-known  role  of  the  last  straw,  breakinji  the  back  of 
his  diffidence.  The  arrival  of  the  cards  marked  a  turn- 
mg  point  in  Jim's  career,  for  although  he  had  worn  many 
^  suit  of  clothes,  he  had  never  before  possessed  a  card 
The  name  "  Mr.  James  Monro  "  took  on  a  new  and  im- 
portant significance  when  engraved  on  copper,  and  the 
result  was  all  the  most  critical  eve  could  desire  in  the 
symmetrical  swell  of  the  shading  and  the  delicate  tracery 
of  the  hair  lines. 

Luckily  it  was  not  until  he  rang  at  Sir  Murrav  Hender- 
son's door  that  a  disquieting  doubt  regarding  the  proper 
use  of  visiting  cards  came  upon  him,  and  then  it  was  too 
late  to  retreat.  Should  he  give  the  card  to  the  servant 
who  answered  the  bell,  or  should  he  drop  it  into  the  basket, 
which  he  had  usually  seen  on  the  hall  racks  in  Stormboro 
houses?  Or  would  the  servant  place  it  on  the  tray,  or 
should  he  surreptitiously  put  it  there  when  he  was  leav- 
ing? Unfortunately,  Trautwine's  Practical  Surveying 
said  nothing  about  all  this. 

He  was  further  taken  aback  when  the  door  was  opened 
by  a  tall  footman  with  powdered  hair,  a  magnificent 
specimen  of  our  race.  To  him  he  handed  the  bit  of  paste- 
board, and  asked  for  Miss  Van  Ness.  He  hoped  the  foot- 
man would  know  what  to  do  with  the  card.  Jim  was  not 
sure  whether  he  wished  that  there  should  be  many  visitors 
or  that  Miss  Van  Ness  should  be  alone.  He  was  taken  to 
a  drawing-room,  and  Grace  \'an  Xcss  came  frankly  for- 
ward to  meet  him,  in  a  tea  gown  so  regal  that  Jim  for  a 
moment  could  hardly  believe  this  was  the  girl  he  met  in 
a  travelling  dress  and  gossamer  dust  cloak  somewhere  in 
the  wilds  of  W'rmont.  There  were  seated  in  the  room  a 
motherly-looking  old  lady  with  gray  hair,  and  a  girl 
somewhat  younger  than  the  radiant  vision  who  now  held 
out  her  hand  to  him. 


"  I  have  a  bag  of  money  here  "  239 

J'J  t""  ^o  glad  to  see  you.  Mr.  Monro,"  she  cried 
rather  breathlessly  and  with  heightening  colour.  "  Have 
you  been  long  in  ^Montreal?" 

"  Only  a  few  days,"  replied  the  young  man.  for  he 

t"ZJ\"TJ'T^'r  ^°"^'  ^"^  ^'^^^"^  '^^^'  nothing  was 
to  be  saul  of  the  bnefness  of  their  acquaintance  or  the 
circumstances  m  which  it  had  been  formed.  His  answer 
brought  mm  a  quick,  grateful  look  from  the  girl  which 
hanked  lum  for  h.s  alertness  of  mind,  although  it  was 
scarcely  flattermg  to  him  that  this  speedy  comprehensTon 
was  evidently  unexpected.  t'prLuension 

York'^M^'iif  ""*"  produce  to  you  a  friend  from  New 
York.    AlrMonro,  Lady  Henderson;  Miss  Henderson." 

And  so  there  was  Jim,  marvelling  at  his  own  bravery 
seated  with  the  ladies  while  tea  was  brought  in,  the  world 
apparently  going  on  much  as  usual 

;;  When  did  you  arrive?"  asked  Lady  Henderson. 

"&u   ^""'■^^^y  "'gilt  of  last  week." 
Ah,  then,  you  took  the  day  trair  from  New  York     I 

and  hv  th  '"''''  P'^^turesque  ride  through  the  mountains 
and  by  the  rivers  and  lakes. ' 

"TZ'nV  n^'"'-^^^  '""'^'■y  '"  certainly  very  beautiful." 
h.J      u  "I^'"'  travelling  myself,  although  my  hus- 

band will  never  travel  in  the  daytime  if  he  can  help  it 
We  are  Jack  Sprat  and  his  wife  as  far  as  railway  t  avei 
s  concerned.    Men  seem  to  think  it  such  a  waste  of  time 

^-  e  Z,lwT  "?  '''  f'f^  "'■'  ^'^^^P'  ^"^  to  accomplisii 
..e  hundred  miles  while  enjoying  a  good  night's  rest 
appears  to  a  business  man  like  filching  just  so  much  from 
existence  that  otherwise  would  be  wasted  " 

l.n'J''''  T.T^'T.  °^.  ^^'  '''•'^'P'"ff  ^"^^  undoubtedly  has 
leng  hened  the  life  of  the  business  man,"  assented  Tim 
Im  not  so  sure  that  Hfe  is  lengthened  by  all  our 
modern  improvements,"  continued  the  old  ladv.  "  By  and 
by  If  they  keep  on.  I  think  they  will  abolish  sleep  alto- 
gether in  this  rushing,  hurrving  country.  I  never  tret 
much  rest  when  travelling;  I'like  my  own  home  and  mv 
own  room.  With  young  people  it  is  different.  Grace- 
M.ss  Van  Ness-here.  slept  serenely  through  a  railway 
accident  il>e  olner  night  and  knew  nothing  of  it  until  the 
morning,    lell  Mr.  Monro  about  your  adventure  Grace  ' 


lit. 

in' 


I  ;i 


1  li ' 


ml 


240 


The  Victors 


Hi 


-r  ■ 


'i  if 


t 


"  Indeed,  mother,  I'm  tired  of  tellintr  about  it.  I'll 
pcir  out  the  tea — I  promised  Mr.  Monro  tea  if  he  called 
u^on  me  here — and  besides,  you  tell  the  story  ever  so 
inuch  better  than  I  do." 

And  with  this  Grace  Van  Ness  devoted  her  attention  to 
ihe  tea,  which  the  servant  had  brought  silently  in  on  a 
broad  silver  tray.  Lady  Henderson  went  placidly  on  with 
her  gentle  conversation,  relating  the  incident  of  the  palace 
car,  an  Adamless  Eden,  as  she  told  of  it.  while  Jim,  with 
a  craft  hitherto  unsuspected  in  himself,  made  various 
surprised  comments  as  the  tale  continued,  and  caught 
once  or  twice  a  sly,  amused  glance  from  the  heroine  of  the 
story  as  she  bent  over  the  teacups.  Now  and  then  Jim 
found  himself  wondering  at  his  own  self -composure  dur- 
ing this  very  pleasant  visit.  How  friendly  and  nice  these 
quiet  people  were.  How  smoothly  he  had  run  along  the 
groove  in  this  social  world,  the  entrance  to  v/hich  he  had 
dreaded   with   such   unnecessary    fear. 

Several  people,  mostly  ladies,  came  in  during  his  stay, 
and  so  he  had  an  opportunity  of  a  few  words  with  Grace 
Van  Ness  before  he  left. 

"  I  may  not  see  you  again  in  Montreal,"  she  said  to  him, 
"  unless  you  happen  to  be  at  the  summit  of  the  mountain 
to-morrow  at  eleven  o'clock.  Gussie  and  1  are  going  to 
drive  up  there.  Next  day  we  leave  for  Quebec  and  the 
Saguenay.     Have  you  ever  been  on  the  mountain  ? " 

"  Oh,  I  know  the  mountain  well.  I've  been  surveying 
it  these  last  few  days." 

"  Surveying  it?  " 

"  Yes.  While  waiting  in  Montreal  for  an  indefinite 
time  I've  been  taking  lessons  in  civil  engineering,  and  tlie 
mountain  has  been  my  stamping  ground.  Thus,  you  sec, 
I  am  acquiring  knowledge  and  enjoying  scenery  at  the 
same  time." 

"  You  remind  me  of  my  father  when  he  was  a  young 
man.  He  began  his  career  as  a  civil  engineer,  running 
the  line  of  a  new  railway.  I  shall  not  say  good-bye  to  you 
now,  as  I  may  see  you  on  the  mountain  top  to-morrow." 

Monro  walked  back  to  his  hotel,  upheld  by  a  feeling 
of  elation  hardly  to  be  accounted  for  by  his  successful 


...y-£^ 


"  I  have  a  bag  of  money  here  "  241 

emergence  from  an  alarming  social  encounter     It  was 
early  seven  o'clock  when  he  reached  the  hos  dry    and 

that^momcnt  pacmg  mipat.ently  up  and  down  the  hotel 

fromT''^'  ^'"'"  '''  '''''"''^'  "  '''^''■^  ^'^  >'«"  'P""S 
"  Hallo  Jim !  You  arc  a  fine  faithful  younjr  man  I 
nms  say!  Do  you  call  this  attending  to  du?y>  Sre 
whilo'^f  "^  ^°''-^""'  ^^"'^'""^  ^'^'-'  ^'l^^k  hour^  hour! 
^h^^irh^c^mrr/;?;, '  "^'  "°  ^"^  ''  ^'-  °«^-  ^-s' . 
I  have  been  taking  a  lesson  in  civil  engineering  "  said 

eaJniSofTJ:  ^^^T'"^^'"^"  "^  ^'^^  nfan'^tfLn 
are7ou^°l•ng^";:'?!.P^  ^-°-^-'  f-''-    "What 

fcUow^wfsn'tTent  ^r  ^"'^'^-^  ^^'^  ^^^  ^^^*  ^°-^  ^^her 
Know  wasn  t  sent.     I  ve  to  leave  for  Toronto  to-mVhf- 

and  you  must  return  to  New  York,  so  we've  got  to  bf  a 

tl  oS'doni'^^'^^P  *  ^°-  "^^^  -"t  --  for  that  ten 
aS  I  am  to  HL-r-l  T  ^^"'^^^''"ff  ^bout  your  clothes. 
-  wi  I    ?•  ^'^'"^  '^  ^°  Toronto.     And.  talking  about 

Bu  oni,::;'''  ^  ^^"^^  °^^T  '^""-  J-"^  •  ^hv  this  grfndeur ' 
buttonhole  bouquet  and  all.  Well.  I'm  blowedf  You 
civd-engnieer  iu  slvleout  her^"  "'"weci.     You 

Ben  walked  slowly   round  his   friend,   pretending  to 
admire  h,m  from  the  various  points  of  thf  compass^ 

So  you  are  gettmg  five  dollars  a  dav,  too   I  imagine 
gorgeou^--"""^  '"  ^'^^"^^-     ^^>-  J-'.  >-'arrstn^pT>; 

.ftrA'-  ''^!l^'  ^^" '  '"PP°'^  >'°"  ^top  fooling  and  give  up 
cittractmg  the  attention  of  all  in  the  hotel.  Come  to  mv 
room  and  practice  your  antics  there  "  ^ 

fon  W  ?'"•'  ^y'  ^■°"'"  '^^^^'''-'^  that's  attracting  atten- 
'  Once'\tvr  j:n^.  1^  "  '''''''  '^^  ^  ^°  >-™--' 

coui|t:^;^.^;^t^:^^ 


ill 
11 


242 


The  Victors 


\m  I 

Mi 


a  clay.  Say,  Jim,  we  seem  to  have  struck  it  rich.  Hope 
it  will  last,  that's  all,  and  so  I  advise  you  to  adhere  strictly 
to  instructions  and  not  pay  too  close  attention  to  such 
outside  matters  as  civil  engineerinj^f.  Glassthrop  told  me  I 
should  find  you  waitingat  this  tavern." 

'•  Civil  engineering  is  part  of  Glassthrop  s  instructions. 
However,  you  can  have  the  money  in  five  minutes.  It's 
down  in  the  safe.     Where's  your  order?" 

"  Here  you  are." 

Jim  took  the  scrawl  that  was  handed  to  him.  Tt  was 
written  on  a  sheet  with  the  letter  head  of  the  Broadway 
firm. 

"  Please  deliver  to  bearer  the  sealed  packet  in  your 
possession  and  return  immediately  to  New  York. 

James  Glassthrop." 

"  Say,  Ben,  what's  the  matter  with  this  man  ?  " 

"  Nothing,  as  far  as  I  can  see,  except  that  his  meahS  of 
locomotion  are  slightly  defective.  His  brain  seemed  all 
right.     Why  do  you  ask  ?  " 

"  Is  this  the  only  order  he  gave  you?  " 

"  Yes.     Isn't  it  plain  enough  ?  " 

"  There  is  nothing  here  about  ten  thousand  dollars." 

"  No.  He  told  me  that  was  the  amount  in  the  pack- 
age. I  suppose  he  tlid  not  mention  it  in  writing,  fearing 
I  might  lose  the  order,  and  that's  why  he  didn't  put  in 
your  Montreal  address.  Gave  me  that  by  word  of  mouth. 
He's  a  shrewd  man." 

Monro's  brow  wrinkled  in  perplexity  as  he  scrutinised 
the  paper. 

"  Time  is  flying,  Jim,"  said  McAllister. 

"  Well,  you  know,  I  don't  understand  those  New  York 
people.  Glassthrop  gave  me  a  torn  piece  of  paper,  and 
told  me  to  deliver  the  packet  to  the  man  who  presented  the 
other  half.    Did  he  give  you  the  half  of  a  torn  sheet?  " 

"  No.     Said  nothing  about  it." 

"  I  can't  give  up  the  money  on  this.  Obey  orders,  if 
you  break  owners.  Ben,  I  believe  they  are  playing  with 
us.    I  don't  like  it." 


"  I  have  a  bag  of  money  here  "  243 

"  fi*  n'^'"  P^^^-     ^^  ^'^^>''''^  ^^'"'"S:  to  fork  over  five 
pod  dollars  every  day  to  each  of  us  for  the  fun  of  it  let 
em  play,  say  I.    Well   what  are  you  going  to  .loV'' 
I  shall  telegraph  Glassthrop  and  ask  if  he  annuls 

MltXn'''''';r'- ,  ^  ^^'?^^"''  P^"  ^'th  the  packet "o 
Mitchell  himself  without  the  other  half  of  the  document 
in  my  possession."  '-"uitiu 

"  But  then  you  make  me  disobey  my  instructions  I 
was  to  leave  for  Toronto  on  the  niglit  train,  while  you 
have  a  written  order  to  proceed  to  New  York  at  once  It 
seenis  to  me  merelv  a  choice  of  which  command  you  will 
disobey ;  they  re  both  from  the  same  man." 

I  can't  help  that.    Til  do  exactly  what  I  was  told  to 
«  r,".  ^"yt'^'"&  wrong  happens  it  isn't  my  fault." 
iJut  your  telegraphic  order  won't  be  anv  better  than 

hvlf"^'  'V^^'i'"'*  ^°"'  ^^  ^'  S:ood,  for  this  is  written 
by  nis  own  hand. 

J'fJ   T'u^^r    f   t^le&'-aphic   order.     He   must   send 
pacS  f  a'y'one^"  "'  "'^"^  ^'P'  ^^  ^'"  "°^  ^'^  "P  ^'- 

m^^upU^airii"  S  ""  '  '''  °^  "^""'^  •"  ^-^-^'  -^ 
"I  can't  help  that.    That's  Glassthrop's  lookout  " 
Nothing  Ben  said  could  move  Jim  from  this  resolve 

fnl  Jill  "^'"J/T^^"'  *?  ^  telegraph  office,  relinquish^ 
mg  all  thought  of  trains  for  that  night. 

R J"  ^f  won't  get  the  message  until  to-morrow,"  grumbled 
th^wires "  ^         ^^^  ^  '''^"''°*  ^"'^^^'^  ^^^'^ 

"Nothing  that  he  can  telegraph  will  make  me  take  that 
packet  from  the  safe.    He  must  send  on  that  torn  slip 
and  If  he  doesn't  like  that  he  can  get  som.  one  else  to 
be  his  messenger  boy  next  time." 

In  the  morning  no  telegram  was  likely  to  arrive  before 

eleven    so  after  breakfasting    together    the  two  younjr 

men  strolled  along  m  the  streets,  xMonro  seeming  a  little 

nervous,  as  if  the  coming  message  cast  its  shadow  before 

I  shouldnt  worry  about  it,  Jim,"  said  Ben  suddenly' 

u  lu     ^  ^^°"*  ^^'^t  •  "  t'^e  other  asked  in  surprise.    ' ' 

About  anything  Glassthrop  may  say,  for.  after  all 

you  acted  just  right."  ' 


Hi 

■  ,1 


inn 


244 


The  Victors 


'*  Oh,  that.     I  had  almost  forpotten  about  it." 

"  Well,  what's  on  your  mind  ?  " 

"  Nothing  very  much,  but  if  I've  j^ot  to  leave  Montreal 
so  suddenly.  1  ought  to  let  Talmer  know." 

"Who's  Palmer?" 

"  A  provincial  land  surveyor,  as  they  call  them  here. 
He  has  been  giving  me  instruction  on  the  use  of  mathe- 
matical instruments.  He'll  be  waiting  for  nie  on  the 
mountain." 

"  All  right ;  let's  go  and  sec  him." 

"  I  was  thinking  of  doing  that.  You  wouldn't  mind 
waiting  at  the  hotel  in  case  a  telegram  should  arrive. 
H  it  should  come,  open  it  and  see  what  Glassthrop  has  to 
say  for  himself." 

"  My  dear  boy,  I've  nothing  to  do  with  the  telegram; 
it's  for  you.  Besides,  we  can't  get  out  of  this  town  until 
to-night  anyhow,  so  it  doesn't  matter.  I'll  go  with  you. 
I'll  leave  you  and  Palmer  together  and  climb  to  the  top 
of  the  mountain.    I  want  to  see  the  view." 

"  Oh,  the  view  doesn't  amount  to  anything." 

"  Doesn't  it  ?  I  should  have  thought  it  would  be  fine ; 
city,  river  anJ  country." 

"  It's  rather  disappointing,  and  the  hill  is  vcrv  hard  to 
climb.  Besides,  I  would  like  one  of  us  to  be  here  when 
the  telegram  comes." 

"  Very  well,  Jim.  I  don't  mind;  I'll  wait.  You  meet 
your  surveyor,  whatever  his  name  is,  and  get  back  as 
soon  as  you  can." 

So  Monro  hurried  to  see  his  surveyor,  as  he  had  quite 
truthfully  expressed  a  desire  to  do,  and  after  an  exceed- 
ingly brief  conference  proceeded  to  the  top  of  the  moun- 
tain to  look  once  more  upon  that  really  amazing  view 
which,  so  short  a  time  before,  he  had  professed  to  under- 
rate, but  which,  nevertheless,  is  well  worth  crossing  •  con- 
tinent to  behold.  He  reached  the  summit  about  eleven,  but 
it  was  nearly  twelve  before  a  carriage  arrived,  from  which 
two  young  ladies  descended  and  greeted  him.  Miss 
Henderson  seemed  surprised  to  find  him  there,  and 
thought  the  chance  meeting  very  lucky,  for  they  were 
going  away  the  next  day.    The  conversation  of  three  is 


"  I  have  a  bag  of  money  here  "  245 

rarely  worth  recording,  as  the  ancient  adape  intimates 
and  so  ,t  shall  not  l,e  set  down  here.  The  u'ree  Sd 
up  and  down  while  Gussie  pointed  out  this  place  and  tha 
namm^  villages  in  the  country  and  prominent  bSildingsfn 
the  town.  When  J.m  escorted  them  to  the  waitin/car" 
nage.  Guss,e  proffered  the  hospitalities  of  the  vehide  luu 

fi.=r    I  u  ^''  ,*^'""''   "I'   ^''^   •■"ad  and   wished   to 

cate  that  it  was  the  scenery  he  came  out  to  enjoy  after 

down  r^'I'T/  ^'7  '^'■'■'^^'  disappear,  then  turned  to  go 
down  the  hd  .  when  a  hand  fell  on  his  shoulder 

A  most  charmingly  nice  girl.  Jimmv.  I  would  have 
come  forwarc  and  begged  an  introduction,  but  I  was 
afjaid  you  nught  not  like  the  intrusion  of  a  poor  rSa! 

xvait^^^^  '*'""'  •'°"  '^'""^  "•'  ^''''■''-    ^  ^''°"^^''t  >■«"  ^^^••e  to 

en  ".i^"/!"'"^'  ''°'"''  ^"l'""'  '^'^'^  ^^^'ts,  Jimmv,  mv  bov, 
so  the  telegram  came  before  I  had  waited  ten  minutes  • 
then  knowing  you  would  be  anxious  to  read  it  as  soon  as 
possible,  I  climbed  the  mountain  high,  high  hidi  as  the 
poem  has  it."  ^  '     ^  '        "^ 

"  How  did  you  know  I  was  here  ?  " 
;;Oh.  that  was  easy.  You  are  an  awkward  liar,  Jimmy." 
^^  1  didn  t  he.    I  went  to  see  the  surveyor." 
"  Certainly.     But  you  said  this  view  wasn't  worth  see- 
mg,  which  was  a  whopper,  and  your  anxietv  that  I  should 
not  injure  my.self  by  climbing  th,s  knoll  nude  me  resolve 
at  once  to  conie  up  ,   d  see  the  girl.    Who  is  she,  Jimmy  '  " 
Uid  you  brin.t;      e  telegram  ?  "  'J^ 

"  Yes.    What's  hv    name  ?  " 
"  Miss  Augusta  Henderson,  daughter  of  a  prominent 

toSy'orTimrelf."""-    "^'^  ""  '''  ''''''  ^'^^^^-P  ^a^ 

"I  am  more  anxious  to  know  what  Monro  has  to  sav 

or  himself.     Which  was  Miss  Henderson   the  glwU J 

the  red  hair  or  the  blonde?  "  - 

"Ben,  you're  a  fool.    Her  hair  isn't  red,  it's  bronze" 


ti 


r»rn 


246 


The  Victors 


I 

1 


"What's  her  name?" 

''  How  do  you  know  it  isn't  Miss  Henderson  >  " 
Because  you  were  sure  to  mention  first  the  trirl  vou 
were  not  mterested  in."  b  *»  /wu 

"  I'm  interested  in  both  of  them," 
"And  also  because  you  sprang  so  quickly  to  the  defence 

Jimm"?"''°  "'  '^  ^  '"''''  ""  '''"''"  '''•  '^^•'^  '"  ^^^' 
"The  younjr  lady  with  the  bronze  hair— vou  won't 
mmd  my  insistence  on  that  description  as  correct— is 
Miss  Van  Aess,  of  New  York,  with  whom  I  chanced  to 
become  acquainted  wliilc  'api)roachinff  Montreal  Now 
js  your  msafiable  curiosity  satisfied?  I  suppose  I  may 
afi^am  request  a  sight  of  my  own  telegram,  unless  you 
have  more  questions  to  ask." 

"  Lots  of  cm,  Jim.  but  this  will  do  for  the  moment,  and 
here  s  your  telegram." 

Tk;rH'^r-''°  '■<:^^/he  message,  which  was  not  red  hot.  as 
McAllister  had  predicted.     It  ran : 

J'^}J  ^'^^^^'^-     I^'"'"ff  package  to  New  York.     Tell 
McAllister  to  come  with  you.  Glassthrop." 

"  Say,  Ben,  what  do  vou  make  of  it  all ' " 
lanc^"'    ^^'^   ^''''-     ^'''    ^''^^''    ''^'>'-     I    sa^v    at   a 

XT '  ^?5^°"  "le,  Ben,  I  am  serious.  Arc  those  people  in 
New  York  crazy  or  what?  There's  nothing  businesslike 
about  their  actions  from  first  to  last.  Thev  send  me  here 
with  ten  thousand  dollars  in  a  mvsteriouslv  sealed  pack- 
age, which  IS  something  no  man  would  do  unless  he  were 
engaged  in  underhand  traffic  that  made  the  use  of  banks 
or  express  companies  unavailable ;  then  they  send  you 
with  a  bogus  order  for  the  money." 

"Do  you  think  there  is  ten  thousand  dollars  in  the 
bundle? 

"I  am  reasonably  sure  of  it.  Glassthrop  made  me 
count  the  bills,  and  I  saw  him  place  the  money  in  the 
envelope  and  seal  it.  Of  course,  he  might  have  done  some 
sleight-of-hand  jugglery,  and  there  may  be  nothing  o£ 


"  I  have  a  bag  of  money  here  "         247 

S"oth"er  ••'  ^^'^^^"'  ''"'  '^'''  ^°"'^^  ^'  ^^^"  ^'I'ier  than 

The  two  younj;  men    were  walking   down   the   Infv 

path,  a  way  rather  steep  for  conversation    ancJ  it  was 

some  moments  before   McAUister  replied.     At  last  he 

•'I  was  thinkinft:  about  it  all  the  wav  up.  and  I've  come 
doubr if  ;?'''"•'''"'  (ilassthrop  knows  lus  wa;  about 
Lliet"         "■''  '   ''"^^'   ^""^'-   '^'^   i"   tl^at   sealed 
"  I  can  open  it  and  see." 

Z'V:.?™'?'  l""",'^  "'>F'^  nature  lu'n^^'^al,* 
he  ra  Lr  sn^reJ.    H  T  '^"'^ '"'"""  ^"""S  men.  and 

siasm  was  carryin^^  ,„e  away,  and  a  sh  ewd  stmlyfni  of 

^^^  rertectly.     Lverythmg  you  say  is  quite  ri-rht.     Go 

•'Very  well.  Mitchell  is  the  kind  of  worldy  wise  man 
who.  If  he  wants  a  thing,  pretends  he  doesn't  want tt  For 
some  scheme  or  other  the  firm  of  Glassthrop  sTn  neelo 
one  or  two  honest  men.  yet  men  who  have  hJr  vi?s 
about  them,  and  who  will  obev  orders  to  the  verv  1  T 
against  friend  or  foe.  Mitchell  wrifl  tl  r  .P  '''l^^'' 
he  thinks  he  has  hit  on  thrmrtt^L^e^e  Z  ;r 
spons.b.hty  of  testmg  that  point  to  his  very  brlLVfJel^d 

''  How  do  you  know  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know ;  I  surmise.    He  wampd  nc  fi,,*  1,- 
anteed  nothing:  we  were  ,o  e.xpe    ?oS^^g *:', ■'^fj": 
our  own  risk.  ^cum^ ,  we  went  at 

"  But  he  gave  us  the  money." 


m 

ill- 


'% 


I 

f 


W.'i  i  I 


m 


248 


The  Victors 


'*  Yes,  hccause  we  ha<ln't  any,  and  so  could  not  pet 
through  to  Xcw  York ;  but  he  distinctly  staled  that  the 
money  was  paiil  for  service  rendered,  and  not  on  account 
of  salary.  So  far,  so  jj^ood.  Mr  (ilassthrop  ostenta- 
tiously recjuests  you  to  count  ten  thousand  dollars  in  bills, 
and  apparently  he  sends  tluiii  with  \ou  to  Canada — to 
Canada !  Surely  you  see  what  that  means.  The  moment 
you  cross  the  boundary  line  that  money  is  yours,  if  you 
like  to  take  it.  They  can't  brinj;  you  hack— in  fact,  you 
noed  never  have  left  New  York.  He  has  not  a  scrap  of 
writing  to  show  the  money  is  his  instea«l  of  yours." 

"  Rather  an  expensive  w.ay  of  testing  a  man's  honesty, 
don't  you  think  ?  " 

"  No.  Because  there  isn't  any  real  money  in  your  en- 
velope. He  didn't  need  to  risk  a  cent.  You  hand  him  that 
package,  with  the  seals  untouclicd,  and  (dassthrop  will 
believe  you  are  honest,  up  to  ten  thous.ind  dollars  at 
least.  You  tamper  with  the  wax,  and  all  your  protesta- 
tions would  never  convince  liim  that  you  hadn't  opened 
the  parcel  and  found  it  worthless.' 

"  By  Jove,  Ben,  I  believe  you  are  right!  " 

"  Of  course  I'm  right.  Then  there  comes  in  our 
cynical  friend  iMitchtll's  assertion  that  if  a  man's  honest 
he  is  a  fool.  Glassthrop  tests  that,  too.  He  sends  me 
up  here  with  this  order  which  you  refuse  to  honour. 
You  practically  say  to  him:  'My  son.  if  you  want  to 
play  the  game,  you  must  stick  to'  the  rules.'  Then  Mr. 
(dassthrop  answers:  '  Come  hack  to  Xew  York,  bovs,and 
we'll  call  it  square.'  If  you  hand  him  that  package  to- 
morrow morning  with  the  seals  untouched  we're  in 
clover." 

"  Well,  Ben,  I've  simply  let  you  talk  on  without  much 
interruption,  but  you've  corroborated  my  own  suspicions 
of  the  last  few  days." 

"  Now,  Jimmy,  come  off!  You  can't  steal  my  thunder 
in  that  barefaced  way.  You  hadn't  the  remotest  notion 
that  we  were  l>eing  played  till  I  told  you." 

■'  Up  to  a  point  1  had,  although  I  confess  the  bogus 
order  business  did  not  strike  me  in  the  way  you  put  it.  I 
thought  they  wanted  you  to  take  charge  of  the  package  for 


"  I  have  a  bag  of  money  here 


»» 


249 

a  vv-liilc.  knowiriR:  there  was  alle-ed  to  be  ten  thousatul 

n    nn."'r  •  TI  I'^^V'"''"''""''  '^^'^  ^"'•^'""•■•"  '^'«'"t  the 
o   \  r  t  '  V  ''"'""  ^°"  ^''•''^  ^'--  ^'"""^  a">^*^  *"  this. 

>ou  ur  te  down  what  you  ima^'ine  we  are  to  ,1„  when  we 
iici  back  to  New  York.  I'll  do  the  same,  and  we'll  ex- 
clian^'e  papers. 

Kach  took  out  notebook  and  pencil,  and  scribbled  iar 
a  few  moments,  then  each  handed  his  book  to  the  other. 
J  mi  had  written: 

"  They  will  ask  us  to  take  part  in  some  shady  transac- 
ion.  which  on  the  surface  will  appear  honest.  We  shall 
have  to  keep  our  mouths  shut,  and  there  will  be  a  larce 
sum  of  money  at  our  disposal,  which,  nevertheless,  we 
are  not  to  draw  upon,  and  somebody's  going  to  iret 
swindled  by  the  time  our  job's  done."   "'      "      *         '^ 

Ren's   version   was   more   terse: 

"  We  shall  have  to  tackle  some  enterprise  in  which 
they  won  t  appear.  This  will  involve  the  spending  of 
money  that  they  want  to  be  sure  we'll  spend  honestly,  for 
bein^r  engaged  in  some  rascality,  they  have  no  redress  if 
we  default  They  will  pay  us  well,  and  if  we  do  all  that 
IS  expected  ot  us  will  likelv  land  ourselves  in- jail  " 

Both  young  men  laughed,  and  Ben  said : 

"  Well,  Jimmy,  we  don't  seem  to  have  a  very  high 
opinion  of  our  employers.  However.  I  guess  you  saw 
farther  through  this  affair  than  I  gave  you  credit  for  " 


II 


m 


If » 


fp^. 


CHAPTER  VII 


"  MY  SURVEYOR  IS  FALSE  " 


■      ! 


It  was  early  in  the  morning^  when  the  two  friends 
reached  New  York.  They  breakfasted  at  their  leisure,  for 
they  knew  they  could  not  see  Mr.  Glassthrop  at  his  office 
before  ten.  When  shown  into  the  g'ymnastic  room  they 
found  Mr.  Mitchell  seated  at  one  of  the  desks,  assorting 
papers.  The  open  satchel  at  his  side,  with  various  docu- 
ments in  bunches,  held  together  by  rubber  bands,  be- 
tokened the  travelled  man  of  the  firm  pausing  in  his 
flight. 

"  Good-morning,  gentlemen,"  he  said  brusquely. 
*  Just  in  from  somewhere  ?  " 

"  Good-morning,  Mr.  Mitchell,"  returned  Monro. 
'  Yes,  we  came  from  Montreal  last  night." 

"  I'm  from  the  South,  myself.  If  you  want  a  desk, 
they've  a  key  in  the  outer  office  for  that  one  in  the  corner." 

"  Thanks,  we  don't  want  a  desk.  We  are  here  merely 
to  receive  orders." 

"  All  right.  You'll  excuse  my  going  on  with  this  work. 
I  expect  Glassthrop  every  moment." 

Promptly  at  ten  o'clock  the  outer  door  opened  and  Mr. 
Glassthrop  was  carried  in  and  seated  as  usual  on  a  chair ; 
his  man  threw  o'"?n  the  roller  lid  of  his  desk  and  retired. 

"  Ah,  Mitel-  ,  good  morning.  I  take  it  from  your 
telegram  you  jnit  that  through  all  right  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir.  Without  a  hitch;  without  a  suspicion  even 
— of  a  hitch,"  he  added,  as  if  in  after  thought." 

"  No  monev  spent  ?  "  « 

"  Not  a  cent." 

"  Well,  that  is  marvellous.  Mitchell,  you  are  a  cham- 
pion. You  deserve  a  monument.  I'll  put  one  up  for  you, 

John,  and  inscribe  it  in  honour  of  the  man  who  got  a  bill 
250 


"  My  surveyor  is  false  " 


251 

l!;!S^^anybo!;?i-'^*""   ^^  ^"  ^---"  ^^^te  without 
Mitchell  made  no  reply,  but  cou,^^hed  significantlv   as 
f  vvarnmg  h.s  partner  that  they  wctc  n.t  alone     Sks 

^'  Has  the  governor  signed  it '  " 

ture  "  '  '"'■     ^  '"""'"'^  ^°"^Sr  to  leave  till  I  had  hi.  signa- 

;;  Then  they  can't  go  hack  on  it  in  anv  way  ?  » 
A o  way  that  I  know  of."  '        ^ 

then^^'- "'''  "^'  '"'""•■    ^"'^''    '^^^•""'■"ff    '•'■fff't  at  once. 

*'  I  sec  no  reason  wliy  we  shouldn't." 

iret  von!  ; ;"'7^  men   how  did  you  find  Canada?    Didn't 
get  >our  toe    trozen.  eh      I'd  be  safe  from  that.  wouIdS' 
I?^    You  ve  brought  hack  the  monev  all  safe."    '^""''^  ^ 
Ves,  sir;  here  It  is.  ' 
Glassthrop  laughed  as  he  took  the  packet. 
^^y  Jingo !    I  thought  as  I  came  up  this  momintr  that 

ZfJfZl  '^  ^r  I'  '^  ""  ""'^'^^  I  producedThe^ottr 
half  of  that  sheet  of  paper.     Hang  me  if  I  didn't      I 

telegraphed  you  that  it  was  mv  mistake    but  i    wasn' 
rea  y      The  man  who  has  the  otiior  half  of  >^ur    lip  mL 
took  his  d.rcctions  altogether  and  was  wa  ting    o^r  Tou 
at  Toronto,  searching  the  hotels  there.    HowevS-  Yt  is  aS 
right.    I  sent  him  the  nionev  in  time  "         "''^'^'''^'  '^  '«  ^11 
As  he  rattled  on  he  turn'ed  the  jjackct  over  and  over 
keeping  a  keen  eye  on  it ;  then.  t<,  carrv  out  the  farce  to 
ts  extreme    he  swung  himself  round 'the  room  on  his 
aerial  wheel.  droppe<l  down  beside  the  safe,  opei^d  i"and 
carefully  placed  the  packet  in  one  of  its  rJcess^s   a    if  it 
were  as  valuable  as  it  was  alleged  to  be.    Mitcuell  did  not' 
look  up.  but  kept  on  at  his  assorting,  unheeding  the  mLn 
whose  body  twice  passed  over  his  heLl  in  its  flrght 

Did  you  bring  back  the  book  I  gave  you  al.so  ?  "'asked 

desk  "    '  °"'''  '"'''■''  '■'^""'*''^  *°  ^'^^  l'^''''^^'^  '^^''^  Of  his 
"Yes,  sir." 
"  Look  into  it  at  all  ? " 


% 


252 


The  Victors 


jit: 

ml 


? 


if  f  M 

ill 


tl'  i  ■ 


Yes,  sir. 
"  Find  it  tough  reading?  " 

"  Xo ;  I  got  along  very  well  with  it.  I  must  admit, 
however,  that,  having  nothing  else  to  do  in  Montreal,  I 
took  lessons  in  civil  engineering  from  a  professional  sur- 
veyor. That  helped  me  a  good  deal  with  the  book,  and 
taught  me  the  practical  use  of  the  instruments." 

"  Good  man !  "  cried  Glassthrop,  bringing  down  his 
fist  with  a  crash  on  the  desk.  "  Do  you  hear  that,  John  ? 
He  took  lessons  from  a  practical  engineer." 

"  Excellent  idea,"  said  Mitchell,  without  looking  up. 
"  Oh,  you'll  get  along  in  this  wicked  world,"  continued 
Glassthrop.     "  Xow,  Mitchell,  can  you  give  us  a  minute 
or  two?     Where's  that  map  of  North  Carolina?  " 

Mitchell  rose,  took  a  roll  which  stood  against  the  wall 
in  a  corner,  hung  it  up,  thus  displaying  a  gaudily  col- 
oured map  of  the  state  mentioned,  the  railways  network- 
ing it  in  great  black  ones. 
"Where's  Pillageville?" 
Mitchell  pointed  out  the  place. 

"  Just  stick  a  brass-headed  tack  there,  and  another  at 
the  terminus." 

Mitchell  placed  the  two  tacks  in  position  and  backed 
away  from  the  map. 

"  Now,  young  men,  these  two  tacks  are  fifty-one  miles 
apart,  although  they  don't  look  it.  The  lower  one  is  on 
the  main  line  of  the  F.  A.  &  C.  railway,  and  the  other  is 
on  the  West  Central  system.  We  propose  to  connect 
the  two  places  with  a  single-track  road.  As  these  are 
competing. organisations,  at  deadly  feud  with  each  other, 
inquisitive  people  will  want  to  know  where  we  are  going 
to  get  our  traffic,  because  one  road  won't  give  business 
that's  going  to  feed  the  other,  and  the  country  through 
which  our  line  will  run  is  mostly  uninhabited.  If  such 
inquisitive  people  should  ask  you  where  our  freight  is 
coming  from,  what  will  be  your  answer?" 

"  My  answer  would  be  that  I  don't  know,"  said  Monro 
promptly. 

"  Exactly.  That's  the  rifrht  answer.  I  want  to  im- 
press upon  you  that  you  don't  know  anything  about  the 


i  J 


'!^^*•^ 


"My  surveyor  is  false"  253 

Pillageville  &  Boontown  branch ;  you  don't  know  who's 
building  It ;  you  don't  know  anything  about  it.  Do  you 
understand  that  .^ '  ^  ^^^i 

"  Perfectly." 

"  ^ou  are  willing  to  keep  your  ears  open  and  your 
mouths  shut— both  of  vou  '  " 

"Yes,  sir." 

''  They  will  perhaps  attempt  to  bribe  vou.     The  curi- 
osity of  this  world  is  de,,lorabIe.    I  am  sending  you  there 
expecting  you  to  be  offered  more  mcncv  than  we  pav' 

von  wnnV     r'^^!>°"  ^°  ^"o^^'.  ^n^l  yet 'I  am  confident 
you  won  t  take  the  nionev  nor  toll." 

;;  I  give  you  my  word  'we  wont,"  said  Monro. 
And  I  also,"  added  McAllister 

^^"J^^}\^^^  ■''^^^-  '^'''^'■e  will  be  placed  in  the  First 
>|a  tonal  Bank  of  Pillageville  a  cert'ain  sum  of  mo'e, 
which  you  can  draw  upon,  both  vour  signatures  beini 
necessary  on  each  check.     You  will  draw  vour  own  sal 

wh.t    ^  "^  '•°"""'  ^  day-and  you  will  draw  for 

hntTlll  '-^P""^f  >'°"  ^'^  P"t  to.  bugg>^  hire.  men.  etc.. 
but  I  ask  you  no  to  mqu-re  how  much  moncv  is  at  your 
chsposal.  for  that's  one  of  the  things  I  wish  vou  to  be  able 
to_^say  you  don  t  know.     Is  that  understood  and  agreed 

"  Yes.  sir ;  but  what  are  we  to  do '  " 

"  I'm  coming  to  that.  You'll  go  to  Robinson  who 
runs  the  planing  mill  at  Pillageville.  with  a  letter  I  Tv^H 
give  you  for  him.  He  will  identify  you  at  the  bank,  where 
you  will  register  your  signatures.  Now.  what  vou  are  to 
do  IS  this.  You  are  to  run  a  line  from  one  tack  to  the 
other,  as  straight  as  may  be.  You  will  begin  at  Robin- 
son s  planing  mill  and  strike  northwest  for  the  Boontown 
Aotch  in  the  mountains,  then  through  the  Notch  to  Boon- 
Pi^;.  1  T"  u"  ^  ^^  ^  ''^^'  J^'^"  ^«  ""-^^^  ""'  "-ide  fron. 
1  illageville  to  Boontown  before  you  begin  your  survey- 
ing, so  that  you  can  form  some  idea  of  the  nature  of  the 
country.     See  what  I  mean?" 

''  Run  a  line  ?    What  sort  of  a  line  ?  " 

"You   are   to   make   the   preliminary    survey   for   a 


Hr 


■M 


254 


The  Victors 


Mi 


w 


i-t  I 


railway.  You  are  to  plant  stakes  a  lumdred  feet  apart 
or  a  thousand  ft-et  apart — I  don't  pretend  to  under- 
stand these  part'culars;  what  does  Trautwine  say  the 
distance  should  be?  Dt^n't  know?  Well,  it  doesn't 
matter ;  you'll  find  out  all  about  that.  Anyhow, 
you  will  hire  ..<»ine  cheap  man  with  an  axe  who  will  make 
oak  Staves  and  drive  Vm  in  for  you.  IVrhaps  two  men 
with  two  axes,  but  ^et  whatever  help  is  necessary.  Very 
well,  you  will  work  this  telescope  on  the  swivel  and  tell 
the  men  where  to  drive  the  stakes.  Your  fricr^d  here  can 
hold  uprijrht  the  tall  pole  marked  oit  in  kn^:i;-ths  and,  as 
I  understand  it.  you  siijfht  on  that,  making  si^-ns  ritifht  and 
left  with  your  hands,  and  then  '>-hen  the  tall  ])ole  is  in  its 
exact  position  your  man  drives  in  a  stake  and  numbers 
it  with  red  chalk.  It  is  an  easy  and  jjleasant  occupation, 
and  healthful,  I  should  say.  Didn't  your  civil  engineer, 
at  Montreal  post  you  up  on  this  sort  of  thing?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  understatul  that  all  right.  Then  I  suppose 
I  am  to  keep  a  note-book  and  mark  out  the  levels  ?  .\m 
I  to  stake  out  the  excavations  and  embankments,  or  only 
run  the  line  of  centre  stakes  ?  " 

"  Well,  you  can  take  rough  notes  of  the  difficulties  to 
be  met  with  in  construction,  the  bridges  to  be  built,  the 
deep  cuttings  to  be  made,  and  that  sort  of  thing,  but  at 
present  we  only  need  the  one  line  of  stakes.  As  I  .said, 
this  is  ni'-rely  the  first  rough  survey.  When  the  con- 
struction survey  is  made, of  course  I  shall  have  to  employ 
thoroughly  qualified  engineers,  who  will  get  evervthing 
as  accurate  as  a  chronometer;  but  you  understand  my 
presetr  object,  altliough,  as  I  intimated,  I  don't  want  it 
talked  about.  Civil  engineers  will  cost  me  from  ten 
dollars  to  twenty  dollars  a  day,  and  for  what  I  need  just 
now  you  will  do  quite  as  well.  I  want  to  find  out  which 
is  the  shortest  and  least  difficult  and  straightest  line  be- 
tween the  two  places.  I  want  to  know  whose  land  it  will 
run  over,  and  I  want  to  be  able  to  make  a  free  and  easy 
calculation  as  to  the  ultimate  expense  of  building  the 
road.  When  that  is  done  the  financiers  step  in,  anil  we 
have  then  some  basis  on  wdiich  tn  form  calculations  as  to 
the  capitalisation  of  the  company  we  hope  to  organise. 


"  My  surveyor  is  false  " 


ready 
If 


255 

I  think  there  is  no  harm  in  taking  these  youne  men  en- 
tirely mto  our  confidence,  cli.  Mitchc'l  "^ 

standinli'fhif  t!  '"V'''"  '''n^'"'  ^^'''^''^^>  "  °"  ^hc  under- 
standing: that  they  do  not  talk  to  outsiders  " 

"Certamly,  certainly.     You've  aj^reed  'to  that    jrcntle- 

men,  and  we  trust  you  completely.    You  can't  he  too  "   e- 

fu    of    even  a  chance    word-IVe  known    many  a    b,> 

^Zr^T   """^'^   "^    """'^^""-^   renv^rrVo^ 
uon  t  (innk,  of  course? 

;;  Oh.  no."  said  the  two  you.ip:  men  to-ether 
1  Hat  s  n.crht.     I  ve  no  use  iV.r  a  drinkin-  man     Well 
you  unde.-stan.l  we  engaRo  vou  simply  hecause  we  want 
to  ^et  the  work  done  as  cheaply  as  possil>le.  and YeJ  u" 

\ow   if  t^;  .ro"     '"''  "''"-'"^^^  "'''^"'■''^^'>'  ''^  ""^   '■^^n^i'-e^- 
to  an'swer  it  '•  '    "•''  ''""''  ""  •"°"  '"'''''  ^°  ^'^'  Im  readv 

-m'v  diffl ';,V'''  '■'''■'  ^"  "'"  information  we  require, 
any  difficulty  arises  we  can  dr.ip  v.m  a  n-.te  • 

and  conie^to  v'''''"'v  •  i^^  '^  '■^.'•"Portant,  jump  on  a  train 
are  con  J  ^^'"'  ^  ° '•'''■•  ^^^"^''".^  "^e  a  messao-c  that  vou 
state  nt  of  h  '"'  '  '''^''''-  '''^'  '''''^'  ^''^''".^^  ^  '^''"•ef 

!L  straight'"   ''        '"  """"''^  '""""'•     ^^'^"^  ^^''"'"^^'^P 
;*  How  lon.iT  do  you  expect  this  joh  to  last'" 

Alitchell  does.     What  s  vour  opinion    [olur^- 

It  may  take  tluin  well  into  the  fall.  \  ..nod  deil 
depends  on  lioonf.un  Notch;  th.  rest  of  thc^  route  is 
comi)aratively  easy.  '^ 

"  Mii,dit  it'not  he  advisahlr  to  Ix-j,,  at  the  \',,tcli  and 
work  down  to  Pilla..^eville ;-  ..„.,.,,.  d  .Monro.  'ur 
the   n  vr-  ''"'"'•  ""'■"''  '^'^-^  ''''''''  ^'^''^"  'f  ^ve  started  at 

"  Xo,"  .said  (dassthrop,  decisivelv.  "  You  will  hive  to 
cstal.hsh  relations  at  the  hank,  and  vou  will  have  to  Ve^ 
your  supplies  anywav  from  I'illa.^eville  \n  •  be-in  at 
me  planing  mill,  and  strike  out  into  the  country.  ""Any- 


m 


m 


i  * 


1 1  ! 


jHpli 

^^J       '     : 

t   ■ 

^Wf<  Mil 

i  ' 

256 


The  Victors 


thing  you  want  to  do  in  New  York  ?  Can  you  leave  to- 
night?" 

"  We  can  leave  to-night." 

"  Good.  You  will  hnd  all  the  instruments  you  need 
right  here.  There's  the  theodolite  in  the  corner;  rod, 
chain  and  the  rest  are  in  the  outer  office.  You  may  expect 
Mitchell  to  drop  down  on  you  at  any  time.  He  has  a 
farm  in  the  neighbourhood  and  boasts  of  the  johnny-cake 
his  negro  cook  makes.  You  might  invite  the  uoys  to  your 
log  house.  John." 

"  I  shall  be  very  pleased  to  have  their  company  when 
I  go  to  the  ranch." 

"  There,  you  see,  I've  worked  an  invitation  for  you. 
Want  any  money  to  take  you  south  ?  " 

"  Oh,  no  ;  we  have  plenty." 

*'  I  pay  railway  fares,  you  know.  Don't  forget  to  send 
in  a  billfor  them.  Weil,  good-bye.  Better  take  the  in- 
struments with  you  and  leave  them  at  the  depot,  because 
this  office  will  be  shut  before  your  train  leaves  to-night. 
Now,  John,  we'll  go  through  those  papers  together." 

The  young  men  felt  somehow  that  they  had  dropped 
suddenlv  and  completely  from  the  cognisance  of  Cdass- 
throp,  to  whom  Mitchell  brought  over  his  assorted  doc- 
uments. Monro  took  the  telescope-moani;'  1  iripod  from 
the  corner,  and  with  McAllister  went  to  tlie  outer  office, 
leaving  an  unheeded  "  good-bye  "  behind  them.  G'ass- 
throp  and  Mitchell  were  already  absorbed  in  their  papers. 


CHAPTER   VIII 


ii 


A    RARE    ENGINKF.R  " 

The  youn-  men  found  Pillapeville  a  scattererl  place 
half  town  and  half  village,  with  the  planing  mill  at  the 
northern  outskirts.  Next  dav  the  proprietor  of  this 
factory,  a  tall.  thin,  silent  man,  who  said  he  suflFcred  from 
malaria  and  looked  it.  introduced  ihcni  to  the  manatrcr  of 
the  bank.  1  his  official  treated  them  with  such  courteous 
deference  that  his  manner  confirmed  his  clients  in  the  be- 
lief that  there  was  a  lar^-e  sum  of  monev  at  their  disposal, 
tliough,  true  to  the  promise  given,  neither  made  any  ef- 
fort to  discover  how  much. 

Hiring  three  saddle-horses,  one  for  the  guide  thev  took 
with  them,  they  left  their  belongings  at  the  hotel  and 
struck  across  the  open  country  towards  the  low  range  of 
blue  mounta:ns.  dim  in  the  distance  to  the  northwest. 

The  first  part  of  their  journey  presented  no  engineer- 
ing obstacles:  it  was  an  ideal  land  tor  railway  building 
Aiter  traversing  the  plain  thev  entered  a  p'ine  forest 
then  encountered  more  rugged  uplands.and  finallvcrossed' 
the  notch  in  the  mountains,  with  a  brawling  stream  shal- 
low in  places,  where  tree  trunks  were  balanced  strangely 
on  rocks  as  they  had  been  left  by  the  receding  torrent 
of  spring,  looking  sometimes  like  abandtined'  cannon 
l>oontown  i)roved  to  be  a  sparse  collection  of  rough  frame 
and  log  houses  clustered  round  a  freight  shed  on  a  single 
track  railway.  There  were  a  few  sawmills,  one  own'cd 
n  Robinson  of  the  planing  mill,  to  the  foreman  of  which 
he  gave  them  a  note  in  case  thev  needed  assistance.  Re- 
turning, they  kept  by  the  edge  of  the  stream  which  flowed 
from  the  Xotch,  and  it  led  them  through  the  forest  by  a 
longfer  way  than  tb=>*  b<-  vi"--!^  fi,.--  v---  '   --,,,  t  •    { 

were  forced  to  abandon  it  in  the  open  countrv   as  its  di'- 
^7  ■  '.57 


1< 

m 


•  I 


I 


w 

% 


258 


The  Victors 


rection  did  not  make  for  Pillaprcvillc.     Tlair  guide  rode 
on  ahead,  and  they  followed  side  bv  s'Al: 
"  Well,  Ben.  what  do  you  think  .if  it  all?  " 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know.  A  railway  line  seems  fea  ihle 
enough,  but,  as  (ilassthrop  said,  1  don't  see  where  thcv 
are  going  to  get  their  traffic,  unless  it  is  to  be  a  logging 
and  lumber  road,  which  is  posr.ibly  his  idea." 

"  I  cant  get  out  of  my  head  the'  unreality  of  the  \.!iole 
th:ng.  Somehow.  I  distrust  those  people.  Mitchell  kept 
silent  most  of  the  time,  except  when  Glassthrop  a;)pealed 
to  him,  and  Glassthrop  appeared  to  me  to  be  talking 
glibly  to  persuade  us  to  believe  in  a  project  which  he  h;m- 
self  didn't  believe  in." 

"  Why  should  he  care  whether  we  'jcl.cved  in  it  or  not, 
and  why  should  we  care  whether  he  believes  in  it  or 
noi,  as  long  as  he  pays  us  what  he  promised  and  gives  us 
a  three  or  four  months'  job?" 

"  Oh,  that's  all  right.  I'm  with  him  while  the  money 
holds,  but  it  doesn't  seem  to  me  this  is  the  way  railroads 
are  begun.  I  can't  imagine  shrewd  practical  men  picking 
up  two  youngsters,  entire  strangers  to  them,  and  sending 
them  down  here  to  carry  out  a  serious  undertaking,  for 
which  these  young  men  are  admittedly  unprepared.  The 
real  railroads  of  this  country  have  not  been  engineered  by 
men  who  never  heard  of  Trautwine  a  week  before  they 
started  operations.     It  has  a  fishy  look  to  me." 

"  Well,  what's  your  idea  of  it?  '' 

"I  don't  exactly  know.  It's  a  big  bluff  of  some  kind. 
We're  to  keep  our  mouths  shut,  and  to  pose  as  real  engi- 
neers, when  we're  not." 

"  Forty  dollars  a  week,  Jimmy.  There's  no  bluff  about 
that.     What  do  you  intend  to  do?  " 

"  Oh.  we'll  go  on,  of  course,  just  as  if  we  weren't  liv- 
mg  in  a  fairy  tale.  We'll  do  the  best  we  can  for  the 
money,  and  work  hard." 

"  That's  right.  Now  don't  you  think  it  would  be  a 
good  plan  to  run  our  line  straight  from  Pillagcville  to 
the  nearest  point  on  this  river  and  then  follow  it  ud  to 
the  Notch?"  ' 

"No,     You  must  remember  I'm  the  civil  .engineer  of 


"  A  rare  engineer 


259 


s 


the  company.  T  operate  the  theodolite ;  you  merely  carry 
the  pole  and  look  after  the  chain.  The  river  either  means 
a  crooked  line  or  an  excess  of  cost  in  bridges.  We'll 
have  to  take  to  the  river  through  the  fot  thills  and  the 
mountains,  but  we  won't  strike  the  stream  till  we're  com- 
pelled to.  ' 

"  I^y  jingo,  Jim!  You're  a  good  deal  of  an  engineer 
alreatly.  That  seems  sensible,  and  I'm  with  you.  We'll 
have  to  camp  out,  won't  we,  as  soon  as  we  get  ten  miles 
or  so  from  the  village  ?  " 

"  I  expect  so." 

"  Say.  Jim,  l)efore  a  week  we  two  arc  going  to  believe 
in  the  I'illageville-I'oontown  l)ranch  as  ihuroughly  as  we 
do  in  the  New  York  Central." 

"  Perhaps." 

"  Sure.  I  feel  a  certainty  of  it  already.  T  can  almost 
hear  the  toot  of  a  construction  Iran  locomotive  echoing 
among  this  tall  timber.  Say,  we'll  need  a  few  axemen 
here." 

"  It  will  be  some  time  l)cforc  we  get  this  far.  Many 
things  may  happen  before  then." 

"  You  never  did  have  any  faith,  Jimmy ;  it's  a  great 
lack  in  your  character." 

"  You  have  faith  enough  for  anv  two — for  a  whole 
surveying  party,  in  fact.  Iviith  without  works  is  dead, 
and  I  confess  [  don't  see  the  works  ahead  as  plainly  as 
you  do." 

They  had  by  this  time  come  to  the  (;di;!;e  of  the  forest, 
following  the  turbulent  river,  some  miies  to  the  south 
of  where  they  had  entered  the  woods  on  their  upward 
journey.  Their  guide  had  stopped  and  had  turned  half 
round  in  the  saddle,  his  hand  on  the  horse's  haunches. 
"  Say,"  he  cried,  as  they  came  up  with  him,  "  see  that  big 
1<>S:  hou?e  on  the  slope  over  thar?  This  is  Mitchell's 
ranch  we're  on  now,  and  that  iiouse  is  hisn.  He's  a  no'then 
man.  and  pow'ful  fond  o'  bosses.  He's  got  a  lot  o'  bosses 
on  that  ranch,  with  niggers  to  take  care  o*  them  mostly. 
He  comes  down  from  up  no'th  and  breaks  colts.  They 
say  he's  a  pow'ful  rich  man." 

"  Do  you  know  him  ?  " 


m 


(i 


m 


^, 


itoi 

mi 

til  4 


I      ■     f' 


IM 


li 


260 


t      i 


t    s 


The  Victors 


"  Suttinly.  Know  him?  You  bet!  I've  taken  him 
out  to  tliis  ranch  more  times  than  I  could  shake  a  stick 
at.  They  never  know  when  he's  comin'.  He  just  tele- 
graphs to  the  boss  at  the  tavern  to  have  some  bosses  ready 
for  him,  and  he  steps  right  otT  the  train  on  to  a  boss,  and 
away  be  goes,  an'  1  mos'  generally  takes  out  his  trunks 
and  guns  and  things  in  a  light  waggon.  If  you  like  to 
call  there  you're  sho'  gettin'  somethin'  good  to  eat — an' 
drink,  too." 

"  We  won't  call.     We  don't  know  the  people.'' 

''That  dont  make  no  diflfcrence;  'sides,  Mitchell's  up 
no'th  now." 

The  guide  had  evidently  yearning  recollections  of  the 
hospitality  at  Mitchell's  ranch. 

"  I  guess  we  can  stand  it  till  we  get  to  the  hotel.  We'll 
have  better  appetites  then." 

The  guide  with  visible  reluctance  moved  on  ahead 
again. 

"  If  I  were  you,  Jimmy,  C.  E.,  I'd  run  the  line  through 
Mitchell's  ranch !  " 

"  I  won't,  without  definite  instructions  to  do  so ;  that 
is,  unless  the  ranch  happens  to  be  in  the  direct  line  be- 
tween the  town  and  the  Xotch,  and  I  judge  it  isn't." 

"  Glassthrop  mentioned  the  place.  Perhaps  he  in- 
tended that  as  a  hint." 

"  Hints  don't  go  with  civil  engineers.  He  must  speak 
out  if  he  expects  me  to  pay  attention." 

The  trip,  which  occupied  several  days,  gave  the  young 
men  a  comprehensive  knowledge  of  the  country  that  was 
to  be  the  scene  of  their  operations,  and  their  confidence 
in  themselves  grew  as  time  went  on.  If  Cllassthrop  ex- 
pected the  surveying  to  be  begun  without  attracting  much 
attention,  he  had  little  acquaintance  with  the  Pillag?ville 
people.  As  a  usual  thing  the  populace  congregated 
at  the  railway  station  to  see  the  trains  come  in  and  de- 
part, but  now  they  adjourned  with  a  unanimity  that  was 
embarrassing,  to  surround  Jim  in  his  first  struggles  with 
the  theodolite.  He  said  nothing  unless  a  man  got  di- 
rectly in  his  line  of  sight,  and  then  Jim  was  compelled  to 
ask  him  to  step  aside,  wh  ch  the  man  always  good-na- 


•u.nn  r?.'7ii!!  -f  vrra  \wi7%r\w 


i  I 


"A  rare  engineer"  261 

turedly  did.  but  merely  to  jjive  place  to  another  consumed 
With  curiosity.     It  seemed  that  iiobodv  in  the  place  had 
anythmjfto  do,  except  the  hotel-keeper,  and  he  sat  tilted 
back  on  his  veranda,  his  heels  on  the  round  of  the  cheap 
wooden  chair,  and  his  ancient  straw   hat  pulled  down 
over  his  eyes,  in  which  unvaryinjj  attitude  he  received 
with  equanimity  the  complaints  of  the  quests  rej-ardinir 
the  inferiority  <,f  his  tavern.     Sometimes,  but  vcrv  sel- 
dom, he  was  froaded  into  a  reply.     He  was  a  |.atient"man  ; 
still,  a  guest  now  and  then  went  too  far  in  denunciation. 
Worst  tavern  in  the  state?  "  he  would  drawl.     "Oh    I 
dunno   "bout  that.     ICver  stav  to   P.ill   Summers'  place. 
Boontown?    Didn't?     Well,  then,  you  dunno  what  you're 
talkin    bout.     Yon  <^o  tUere." 

The  crowd  which  surrounded  Jim  when  he  began  oper- 
ations at  the  planing  mill  filU-d  him  with  uneasiness  for 
he  feared  some  one  among  them  might  know  how  a  theod- 
olite should  be  used  an-'  luis  fletcct  his  amateurishness 
m  the  manipulation  of  the  instrument,  hut  his  fears  were 
unfounded. 

"Say,  mister,  what  'ud  you  charge  for  takin*  a  pict- 
ure?    was  the  first  inquiry  made  of  him.  which  did  not 
hint  at  any  too  accurate  an  idea  of  the  functions  of  the 
machme.     But  another  retrieved  the  rc])utation  of  the 
place  by  chiding  the  first,  and  asking  if  he  did  not  see 
the  man  was  mapping  out  town  lots. 
_  For  the  first  day  or  two  the  voung  nioii  had  an  appre- 
ciative group  of  onlookers  about  them,  hut  after  that  they 
were  left  alone,  because  the  general  lassitude  made  it  im- 
possible for  the  natives  to  keep  up  an  interest  in  any  one 
thing  for  a  longer  period,  and  also  because  the  survey- 
ing  party  were  getting  farther  and  farther  away  from  Pil- 
lageville,  and  the  energy  of  the  citizens  was  not  equal 
to  following  tiiem.     The  editor  of  the  local  paper  en- 
deavoured to  interview  each  o'  the  newcomers  regarding 
the  jiroject.  but  failed  to  get  anv  definite  information- 
•nevertheless  the  next  issue  of  the  journal  contained  a 
glowing  account  of  the  new  railwav— a  long- felt  want 
It  said— and  predicted  that  Pillagcvifle  would  become  the 
Chicago  of  the  south,  the  great  railway  centre  of  the 


:\ 


T 


&"ii 


MICROCOPY   RESOLUTION  TEST  CHART 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


1.0 


I.I 


2.8 

13.2 

1 4.0 


2.2 

1^ 


^  TIPPLED  IIVMGE     Inc 

^^  1653   East   Main   Street 

r^  Rochester.   Ne«  York        14609       USA 

iJS  (716)   482  -  0300  -  Phone 

=S  (716)  288-  5989  -Fax 


t 


Hi 


m^  I  ii  i 


f{! 


262 


The  Victors 


Carolinas,  a  position  to  which  its  situation  and  the  well- 
known  industry  and  enterprise  of  its  inhahitants  fully  en- 
titled it.  This  interesting-  revelation  was  commented 
upon  by  the  press  of  the  state  .c^enerally. 

Monro  sent  a  number  of  these  extracts  to  Glassthrop, 
some  givinf^  marvellous  figures  relating  to  the  capital 
of  the  northern  company  that  was  buihling  the  new  road, 
and  said  in  his  report  that  he  had  given  absolutely  no  de- 
tails to  anyone.  Glassthrop's  calm  did  not  seem  to  be  dis- 
turbed. He  wrote  that  such  guessing  was  only  what  he 
had  anticipated ;  that  some  mention  of  the  new  road  had 
appeared  even  in  the  railway  columns  of  a  few  \ew  York 
papers;  that  curiosity  would  soon  d'e  down,  and  that  they 
were  to  continue  their  work  unheeding. 

This  being  good  advice,  and  the  young  men  having  en- 
tered into  their  summer's  task  with  energy  and  discre- 
tion, we  cannot  do  better  ihan  follow  the  example  of  the 
citizens  of  Pillageville  and  leave  them  tn  it  unmolested, 
being  certain  to  hear  from  them  if  anything  unexpected 
occurs. 


BOOK   III 

BEGINNING  THE  GAME 
CHAPTER    ! 

"  T-IIS  MU-llT  HE  TIIK  1  ATK  OF  A  POLITICIAN  " 

Patrick  iMacuikk  looked  over  New  York   (supple- 
mentmgrhis  unwearying  iK-Jestrianism  bv  occasional  lon<'- 
distance  rules  on  street  cars)  very  thoroughly,  like  a  m^n 
who  nispects  a  bit  of  property  he  has  purchased,  noting 
dow-n  m  his  mind  the  future  possibilities  of  this  section 
or  that.     Bcannf,-  some  resemblance  to  his  newly-arrived 
countryman  who  perused  the  constitution  of  the  United 
btates,  he  was  mightily  plazed  wid  it.     He  interviewed 
policemen,  street-car  conductors,  saloon-keepers  compre- 
iiensively  and  indiscriminately,  and  never  went  without 
desired  information  through  lack  of  asking  for  it.     Being 
hail-fellow-well-met,  he  always  fell  in  with  civil  answers 
and  much  good  humour.     The  thin  silken  line  of  his  ac- 
cent tied  him  at  once  to  the  attention  of  most  of  those 
whom  he  accosted,  and  when  he  encountered  a  brogue 
ns  own  accent  seemed  inscnsil)!v  to  deepen,  until  often 
he  was  asked  what  county  he  camr  from,  and  had  he 
been  long  out.     There  was  somciliing  of  the  chameleon 
about  Maguire— his  hue  corresponded  largely  with  the 
colour  that  surrounded  him. 

Maguire  found  that  he  knew  the  citv  almost  as  well 
as  if  he  had  lived  iii  it  for  years  before.  '  He  was  a  great 
reader,  who  never  oi^ened  a  book.  Newspapers  were  his 
literary  food,  and  a  man  who  depends  on  them  gets  a  very 
fair  and  extensive  knowledije  of  things  as  they  are  He 
may  not  know  much  of  things  as  they  have  been,  but  he 

263 


1  ■ 


264 


The  Victors 


I 


n 


II 


Will  be  up  to  date,  and  the  happeninfjs  in  New  York,  po- 
litical and  criminal,  if  apparent  tautology  may  be  for- 
given, occupies  a  large  share  even  of  the  western  press. 
Thus  Maguire  knew  well  who  were  the  leading  men  of 
New  York,  although  his  list  included  no  clergymen, 
statesmen,  scientists  or  others  whom  some  of  us  might 
have  considered  celebrated.  In  like  manner  he  knew  the 
diflferent  localities  almost  by  instinct,  in  spite  of  his  never 
having  seen  them  before.  Thus  he  paused  at  the  City 
Hall  and  gazed  with  admiration  at  the  Court  House 
as  the  only  building  in  the  world  worth  two  hundred  and 
fifty  thousarl  dollars  that  had  cost  ten  or  more  millions 
to  complete. 

"  I  think  I'll  drop  in  and  see  Bradley,"  he  said  to  him- 
self. 

Herman  J.  Bradley  occupied  the  comparatively  humble 
office  of  deputy  street  commissioner,  but  like  many  an- 
other man  he  was  valued  for  his  possessions.  He  owned 
the  mayor  of  New  York,the  governor  of  the  state,  the  two 
senators  at  Washington,  judges,  boards  too  numerous  to 
mention,  and  an  army  of  officials  like  unto  the  san  of 
the  sea  in  number.  Not  even  the  Czar  of  Russa  wi  ,lded 
such  despotic  power  as  he  did,  and  Char'es  I.  had  his  head 
cut  off  for  endeavouring  to  raise  a  tithe  of  the  money 
Bradley  and  his  gang  annually  looted  from  a  single  city. 
But  it  was  his  proud  boast  that  the  humblest  citizen  might 
walk  in  and  hold  converse  with  him,  whUe  he  had  been 
known  to  keep  haughty  millionaires  waiting  out  in  the 
cold. 

After  some  inquiry  IMaguire  reached  the  ante-room  of 
the  deputy  street  commissioner,  wh  business  it  was  to 
keep  the  streets  of  New  York  dirty  and  the  hands  of  his 
henchman  apparently  clean;  but  Patrick  found  that  ad- 
mittance to  the  presence  was  not  so  easy  as  the  pleasant 
paragraphs  in  friendly  newspapers  had  intimated.  Va- 
rious underlings,  who  looked  like  prize-fighters,  and  who 
held  cigars  uptilted  in  their  mouths — a  truculent  position 
for  a  cigar — stopped  him  and  desired  to  know  what  he 
wanted,  but  Patrick's  unfailing  tact  and  good  nature  mit- 
igated the  threats  made  by  one  or  two  to  throw  him  out^ 


^  '  I 


"  This  might  be  the  fate  of  a  politician  "  265 

so  that  at  last,  partly  by  a  fluke,  and  partly  by  a  display 
of  consummate  cheek,  he  found  himself  standing  before 
the  flat  desk  of  the  deputy,  who  also  had  a  cigar  in  his 
mouth,  not  held,  however,  at  the  altitude  attained  by  cer- 
tain other  brands  outside.  To  his  amazement  he  found 
Bradley  much  easier  to  deal  with  than  some  of  the  smaller 
people  he  had  encountered  on  his  way  thit'ier. 

The  autocrat  said  very  little  and  seemed  to  be  a  grim, 
serious  man.  He  looked  up  at  Maguire,  silently,  wait- 
mg  for  him  to  speak,  and  his  penetrating  eyes  seemed 
turnmg  inward  as  if  to  search  his  mind  for  any  picture  of 
the  person  who  now  st  od  before  him.  Not  "inding  the 
image  of  the  newcomer  in  his  memory,  thty  fastened 
themselves  sternly,  questioningly,  on  the  daring  young 
man,  who  cleared  his  throat  and  spoke. 

"  My  name  is  Patrick  Maguire.  I  think  I  have  a  turn 
for  politics,  and  I'd  like  to  try  my  hand  at  the  game.  So, 
Mr.  Bradley,  I  came  direct  to  headquarters." 

The  Boss  puflfed  slowly  at  his  cigar,  still  keeping  his 
deep  eyes  on  the  young  man,  who,  to  his  annoyance,  be- 
gan to  feel  abashed  at  the  scrutiny. 

"What  precinct  are  you  from?"  asked  a  bystander 
sharply,  who  occupied  a  position  at  the  end  of  the  desk. 
"  Why  don't  you  go  to  the  chief  of  your  precinct?  " 

"I'm  not  from  any  precinct.  I'just  came  into  New 
York  this  morning." 

"  How  did  you  come  ?     By  Castle  Garden  ?  " 
"  Now,  look  here,  my  fine  'fellow,"  cried  Maguire,  his 
hot  temper  flaming  up  like  a  flash  of  powder,  "  I  don't 
want  none  of  your  lip.     I  came  to  talk  to  Mr.  Bradley, 
not  to  you." 

"  Oh,  throw  him  out !  He's  no  good.  What  the  devil 
is  he  doing  here  ?  "  shouted  another,  while  the  first  said 
more  calmly: 

"  Don't  be  so  fresh,  young  man ;  you'll  find  you  have 
to  talk  to  me  whether  you  want  to  or  not.  Haven't  you 
made  a  mistake  ?  Hadn't  you  better  get  out  into  Broad- 
way and  clear  your  bra'n  a  little?  " 

Now,  by  God,  I  don't  know  but  you're  right.    I  think 
I'd  better  go  out  and  begin  shouting  that  Boss  Bradley 


ill 


i 

'      ;    ] 

^^^ULil  '.i 

266 


The  Victors 


is  no  such  friend  to  the  poor  man  that  the  lvin|:j  papers 
says  he  is.  '  T'rovv  'im  out '  is  the  best  word  a  man  jjets 
ui  the  deputy  commissioner's  office.  A  decent  man  has 
no  right  here,  I  find,  and  even  the  Boss  daren't  open  his 
mouth.    I've  been  misled  by  the  press  of  the  country." 

"  Oh,  the  papers  are  always  lying  about  us,''  remarked 
a  third  jocularly. 

And  now  for  the  first  time  Bradley  spoke  curtly,  hold- 
ing his  lips  away  from  his  teeth-clinched  cigar. 

"  What  do  you  want?  "  he  said. 

"  \yell,  you  might  do  wor.se  than  put  me  in  the  place 
of  this  spalpeen  here.  Then  you  would  have  oul-  polite 
man  about  you,  which  don't  hurt  at  election  times." 

"Where  are  you  from?     What  have  you  done?" 

"  I'm  here  straight  from  Michigan.  I've  just  worked 
a  little  election  there  in  elegant  style,  and  T  want  to  try 
my  hand  in  New  York,  beginnin  .,^  in  a  small  wav,  with  a 
chance  of  promotion  if  I  give  good  satisfaction." 

"  An  election  in  Michigan  is  a  different  thing  from  an 
election  in  New  York." 

"That's  just  what  I  thought.  Mr.  Bradley,  so  I  got  in 
the  real  New  York  throw  on  them. ' 

"  Your  side  won,  then  ?  " 

"  They  won  up  to  the  beginning  of  the  voting,  but  I 
sold  them  out  to  the  other  chaps  the  day  before,  and  made 
a  few  hundred  dollars  clear;  and  that's  why  I  keep  my 
hands  in  my  pockets  now,  seeing  the  crowd  that's  round 
you." 

There  was  a  lau;j^h  at  this  from  the  insulted  coterie, 
who  pressed  closer  to  the  desk  to  be  within  sight  and 
hearing  of  the  most  brazen  applicant  who  had  drifted  in 
there  for  many  a  day.  But  Bradley  seem<  devoid  of  a 
sense  of  humour.     He  merely  frowned  and  said : 

"Where's  Tom?" 

The  henchman  mentioned  came  up  to  the  front. 

"  Here,  Mr.  Bradley." 

"  Take  this  man  down  to  Mike  Rafferty's  precinct  and 
put  him  on  the  gang." 

"  All  right,  sir.     Come  along." 

The  ring  round  the  Boss  closed  up  and  ^laguire  fol- 


"  This  might  be  the  fate  of  a  politician  "  267 

lowed  his  leader  thnnis:!,  the  corridor.  leavitiR-  the  deputy 
street  commissioner  to  resume  liis  imernipi-d  calhiin- 
'•I  say,  Tom,"  be^'an  Maguire,  as  tliey  reached  the 

""Sxf'n*  ^'■•'"'^  -^  ^''''  ''^''"^-     ^^'^''t  <li^l  I'e  mean  ?  " 

Well,  if  you  ask  me,"  replied  Tom.  "  I  should  sav 

It  means  ructions.     I5ut  I  don't  know  what  it  does  mean 

to  tell  the  truth,  so  I'm  goins:  to  keep  mv  head  shut  alM)ut 

w  V   "  *  ^^'''  "^'^  ""  questions,  and  Til  tell  vou  no  lies  " 

Yes,  but  It  woi/t  hurt  you,  Tom,  to  tell  me  where 

1  m  going. 

^ "  Oh,  you  needn't  *  Tom  '  me,  as  if  vou  were  an  old  pal 
o  mine,  for  I've  had  nothing  to  do  with  it.  and  if  you 
want  to  be  as  chummy  to  me  as  you  pretend,  you'll  'tell 
Mike  that. 

"  Mike  who?" 

"  Mike  Raflfertv." 

"All  right.     I'll  tell  him  anvthing." 

They  walked  up  1 '.roadway  and  then  toward  the  western 
front  of  the  city  by  the  street  through  which  .Maguire 
had  penetrated  New  York  that  morning.  Some  men  with 
shovels  were  dawdling  on  the  tnoroughfare,  and  one  of 
these  Tom  accosted. 

''  Where's  xMike?     Do  you  know?  " 

"  I  donno.     I  hain't  seen  him  for  two  days." 

"  He's  likely  in  Doolan's  saloon."  said  a'nother. 

"That's  just  round  the  corner,"  explained  Tom  to 
Maguire. 

^ "  Oh,  I  know  the  barkeeper  there.     He's  an  old  friend 
o   mine,"  replied  the  latter. 

''  I  thou-,n  you  just  came  to  Xew  York  to-day." 
"  So  I  did,  but  it  don't  take  me  half  an  hour  to  make 
an  old  friend.     I'm  not  so  slow  as  you  Xew  Yorkers." 

If  Tom  meditated  any  replv,  tl.ei'r  arrival  at  the  saloon 
prevented  it.  There  were  half  a  dozen  men  or  more 
standing  at  the  bar  with  glasses  in  various  states  of  empti- 
ness before  them,  and  the  talk  was  loud  and  general.  A 
tall  man,  with  florid  face  and  silk  hat  well  to  the  back  of 
his  head,  seemed  to  be  treating  and  doing  most  of  the  talk- 
ing. The  only  really  sober  man  in  the  place  was  the 
white-sleeved  bartender.     To  the  tall  flushed  man  Tom 


i  :r 


.!<■; 
-1i^. 


268 


The  Victors 


im ' 


approached  and  befjged  a  word  in  private  with  him,  Ma- 
guire  standing  aloof. 

"  Spit  it  out,  Tom,"  shouted  the  person  addressed. 
"We've  no  secrets  here  among  friends,  have  we,  boys? 
What's  going  on  at  the  City  Mall?  " 

"  Here's  a  man,  Mr.  Raffcrty,  that  the  Boss  sent  down 
to  be  put  on  the  gang,"  said  Tom  in  palpable  fear,  a  fear 
that  was  speedily  justified. 

"What !  "  roared  Rafferty,  glaring  at  Maguirc.  "  Did 
he  say  anything  about  the  three  good  men  whose  names 
I  gave  him  two  weeks  ago  this  very  day  ?  " 

"  He  did  not,  Mr.  Raflferty.  He  just  said  '  Take  this 
man  to  Raflferty  and  put  him  on  the  gang.' " 

RafTerty  brought  down  his  fist  on  the  bar  with  a  thud 
th^t  made  the  glasses  jump  and  jingle,  swearing  a  mighty 
oath  as  he  did  so. 

"  He'll  not  move  a  shovel  on  any  street  in  my  precinct 
while  my  name's  Mike  Raflferty.  Do  ye  hear  that,  ye 
flannel-mouthed  son  of  a  sucker,  comin'  here  to  take  the 
bread  out  of  honest  men's  mouths,  and  them  as  good 
voters  as  there's  in  the  whole  ward." 

"  Excuse  me,"  said  Maguire,  with  a  suave  politeness 
that  entirely  misled  the  angry  man  regarding  the  speaker's 
temper.  "  Excuse  me,  gentlemen,  but  do  I  understand 
that  the  '  gang  '  is  the  street-cleaning  brigade  I  have  often 
admired  from  the  sidewalk  this  day  as  about  the  only  per- 
sons in  New  York  who  have  nothing  at  all  to  do?  " 

"Here,  you  get  out  o'  this!"  yelled  Mike  Raflferty. 
"  Get  your  big  feet  oflf  my  precinct.  What  are  ye  doin' 
here,  anyhow,  you  mug  from  the — " 

Mr.  Raflferty  never  finished  his  elegant  sentence,  for 
at  this  moment  Maguirc  sprang  forward  like  a  released 
bull-dog  and  smote  him  a  terrific  blow  on  the  mouth, 
which  impact  knocked  Raflferty  back  against  the  bar, 
when  a  ringing  left-hander  on  the  right  ear  sent  him  like 
a  log  to  the  floor.  There  was  instant  commotion  in 
the  olace,  Tom  wringing  his  hands  in  a  safe  corner, 
moaning : 

"  I  knew  it— I  knew  it !  " 

The  bartender  rushed  to  the  doors  and  closed  them, 
the  drinkers  making  a  motion  of  attack  all  together. 


"  This  might  be  the  fate  of  a  politician  "  269 

"Any  friend  of  his  object?"  inquired  Mapuire  in  his 
most  insinuatinR:  tone,  fal  ing  back  into  a  new  position 
and  roUin^j  up  his  sleeves  as  he  did  so.  The  movement 
anonjj  the  stricken  man's  friends  resolved  itself  into  a 
hrst-aid-to-the-tnjured  effort,  and  they  clustered  sympa- 
thetically round  the  fallen  hero. 

"  Call  a  policeman !  "  spluttered  RaflFerty.  "  See  if 
Kyan  s  on  his  beat.'' 

"  No,  no,"  pleaded  the  bartender.  "  Gentlemen,  gen- 
tlemen, we  11  all  be  in  the  papers  to-morrow  morninir  if 
we  re  not  careful.  It's  no  fair  play  to  strike  a  man  like 
tliat  without  warninjf.  and  it d  serve  you  riRht  to  spend 
a  nrdit  in  the  cells,"  he  added  anjrrily  to  Maguire,  who 
stood  ready  for  anything  that  might  arrive 

"  ril  have  his  life,  by  God !     I'll  have  his  life !  "  threat- 
ened Kafferty.   staggering,   with  assistance,  to  his   feet 
Youse   all   saw   it!     He   shtruck   me   whin   I    wasn't 
lookin  . 

"  Then  get  up  and  look,  and  I'll  do  it  again,"  s^id  Ma- 

"  ril  break  your  neck,"  cried  Rafferty.  wiping  the  o'ood 
on  his  chin  with  his  hand,  too  excited  to  see  the  towel 
the  bartender  pressed  upon  him. 

*'  Well,  it's  more  than  you  could  do  a  minute  affo  " 
growled  Maguire.  ^  ' 

"You  shut  up,"  commanded  the  exasperated  bar- 
tender. "  You've  done  enough  harm  now,  without  jriv- 
ing  us  any  of  your  chin  music."  * 

":Me  shut  up,  is  it?"  And  Maguire's  angered  fist 
came  down  on  the  counter  top  .vith  the  force  of  a  steam 
hammer.  "  Be  the  stars  and  stripes,  Johnny,  me  pretty 
beer-slinger.  but  yere  smoothin'  down  the  wrong  man 
entoirely.  There's  not  a  squake  left  in  Mike  Rafferty 
gutter  groveller  that  he  is.  Let  hirfi  open  his  yap  at  me 
again,  an'  nis  back'^  on  the  sawdust  before  he  closes  it 
Give  me  the  wink  of  an  eye  from  any  one  of  the  lot  of 
ye,  an  it's  out  on  the  street  ye  all  are,  with  Policeman 
Ryan  on  the  top  of  ye.  De  ye  hear  that,  now  I  111  learn 
ye  to  insult  a  gintleman  wh'n  he  comes  t'  yc  as  saft  spoken 
as  a  three-months'  lamb.'' 


lu 


m 


270 


The  Victors 


"It's  all  riKlit ;  us  all  rip:lit."  pleaded  the  bartender, 
soothingly,  ([uick  as  a  weather  bureau  official  to  detect  the 
pos.iio::  of  tiie  real  r.tor.    centre. 

"  Its  all  rijrht,  is  it?  I  say  it's  not  all  n},dit.  Did  I 
be^in  it?  Did  I  t'row  out  every  insultin'  word  I  could 
lay  uiy  tonjjuc  to?  1  did  not.  An'  who  sint  me  here? 
It  was  Boss  Hradley  himself.  An'  I  wasn't  sint  here  to 
take  any  o'  Mike  Rafierty's  clack.  Go  and  tell  the  Hoss 
that  ve  called  him  a  fool  an'  that  I  struck  ye  to  the  ^jround 
for  it." 

"  I  didn't  say  a  word  apainst  the  I'oss,"  muttered  Raf- 
firty.  "  I  don't  blame  the  Boss.  It's  Graoy  that's  done 
this." 

"  indeed  it  was  the  Boss  himself.  Mr.  Raflferty.  Grady 
>vasn't  there  at  all,  at  all,"  put  in  Tom. 

"If  you're  afraid  to  say  a  word  agin  the  Bos^,"  inter- 
rupted Maguire,  calming  down,  "  then  I'll  say  it  for  you. 
He's  no  judge  of  men;  he's  a  fool  to  send  a  man  I'ke  mc 
bete,  thinking  I'm  that  hard  up  as  to  welcome  a  job  of 
street  cleaning.  Put  your  three  men  on,  Rafferty,  good 
voters  as  they  are,  but  you  don't  get  me  in  ihe  gang,  al- 
thougli  before  next  election  I'll  have  a  hundred  voters  at 
my  back  for  every  one  of  your  three  street  swabbers." 

"  Don't  you  want  a  job  then  ?  "  inquired  the  bartender 
in  amazement.  It  w  '  the  first  time  he  h?d  known  any- 
thing refused  in  Xew  ^  ork. 

"Want  the  job?"  reiurned  the  indignant  Maguire. 
"  Do  yoH  want  the  job?  " 

"  Xo.     I'm  in  another  profession, "  replied  Doolan. 

"  Well,  so  am  1.  I'm  no  scavenger,  I'd  have  .  ju 
know." 

"  You  see  it's  all  right,  Mr.  Raflferty.  The  man  doesn't 
want  to  go  on  the  gang."  reasoned  the  pcacc-makit.g 
bartender  to  the  sullen  leader  of  the  precinct. 

"Then  what  the  divil  is  he  doing  here?"  inquired 
Raflferty  from  behind  his  towel. 

"  I'd  a-told  you  that  in  a  minute  if  ye'd  a  kept  a  civil 
tongue  in  your  head,"  said  Maguire. 

"  I'll  make  your  head  sore  for  that  yet,  me  lad,  if  ye 
don't  get  out  of  this  precinct.'' 


"This  mif^ht  he  tlic  fate  of  a  politician"  271 


"  Vail.  1  lircatcncd  men  live  lonjj.  Whnt'll  you 
drink.  !>oys?  " 

Turn  cilfjfc'd  up  near  t!  >  bar.  The  attitude  of  the  otliers 
distinctly  leaivd  toward  the  vi<:  jr,  with  the  excvption  of 
two,  who  .still  proffered  synii)athy,  hut  took  ..are  not  to 
give  it  any  practical  demonstration  while  the  assailant 
was  in  his  truculent  ukkjcI.  Mven  they  wavered  when  the 
seductive  invitation  was  sent  forth.  The  bartender, 
much  relievid  at  the  clearinjj^  of  the  sudden  storm,  threw 
open  the  d(V)rs  an;a'n  and  j^ot  into  his  place  of  usefulness, 

"  What  will  yoii  have,  j^entlemen  ?  '  he  asked,  smilinj^. 

"  No  friend  of  mine  drinks  with  that  njan,"  said  Raf- 
ferty. 

"  ( )h,  a  drink  is  a  drink,"  exclaimed  one  of  the  by- 
standers, who  up  to  this  moment  had  not  spoken.  "  Come 
along,  Mike,  and  join  us.  and  let  byjj^ones  be  byixones. 
I'll  apolojjise  all  round,  myself,  just  to  mako  things 
square." 

"  I  didn't  expect  that  from  you,  Ramsay,  and  yc'd  bet- 
ter think  twice  before  ye  drink  with  an  enemy  of  mine." 

"  As  far's  that's  conceriud,  Mike,  I  choost  my  own 
company,  and  if  you  don't  like  it,  you  can  lump  it.  I'm 
not  seeking  a  job  under  you,  any  more  than  this  young 
man  appears  to  be."' 

"  Then  don't  expect  me  to  smooth  out  trouble  with  your 
men,  that  all." 

"Oh,  don't  let  that  bother  you,  Mike.     My     icn's  a^ 
independent  as  I  am,  and  that's  what's  the  mutter  w*'  1 
them.     I'm  thinking  you'll  want  my  help  next   .\oveiii 
her  more  than  I  want  yours  now  or  any  other  time.     S- 
if  your  t(in.  ue  likes  to  make  two  enemies  in  an  aftcrn- 
all  right,  say  I." 

"  Gentlemen,  geiitlemen,"  gently  urg-  ^d  the  bartens 
standing  ready  for  orders.     "  Enough  said ;  let  it  go  ^ 
that.     Come,  Mike,  have  a  drink  with  me." 

"  No,  be  gubs !  "  cried  Maguirc,  tapping  the  bar  with 
his  knuckles.  "  This  treat's  mine,  and  whoever  drinks 
drinks  at  my  expense.  The  man  who  refuses  can  go 
somewhere  else." 

"  'I'hat's  the  way  to  talk !  "  said  Ramsay.  "  And  when 
this  glass  is  done  I  have  the  money  to  pay  for  the  next." 


Iff 


I  'I 


The  Victors 

The  official  strcct-cIeniUT  departed  with  his  two  friends 
unmolUticd.  and  those  'vho  rcniaiiud  turned  with  a  stjjh 
of  rehef  to  the  interrupted  business  of  tlic  day. 

"Here's  to^  you."  saluted  Uanisay.  liftinju;  his  ',lass. 
"  Mike  will  be  sorry  for  this  in  tl;c  tn()rninf,^" 

"  Oh.  he's  a  gooci  fellow  usually,"  put  in  the  bartender; 
"and  I  dunno  what's  wron^  with  him  tj-day." 

"  Well,  when  a  man  heats  his  bacK  against  the  saw- 
dust as  hard  as  Mike  did,  one  doesn't  need  to  wonder 
what's  wronjj  with  .lim.  So  you  don't  care  to  work 
with  the  panjj,  mv  son  ?  " 

"  I  do  not." 

"  Why  did  you  jjo  to  the  I'.oss  ?     What  i)tdl  have  you  ?  " 

"  I  haven't  any  pull  at  all.     I'm  Roinjj  in  for  politics 
and  so  I  went  to  tlie  chief  to  sec  if  he  could  put  me 
in  the  way  of  anythinj,'  to  do.  nevrr  thinkinj^:  he  would 
insult  me  by  setting  me  at  cleaning  streets." 

"  Now  there's  where  you're  wronjj.  It  wasn't  any  in- 
sult, and  wasn't  meant  to  be.  My  jjosh !  that's  how  Tam- 
many takes  care  of  its  own,  and  no  wonder  the  opposi- 
tion can't  smash  it.  Here's  u  younpf  fellow  blows  in 
against  the  Boss,  without  a  single  soul  to  say  a  word  in 
his  favour,  and  pets  a  job  that  the  other  men  are  pulling 
all  the  strings  for.     It's  amazing,  isn't  it,  Tom?  ' 

"  Yes,  it  is,"  replied  Tom,  who  had  kept  well  out  of 
sir  .  until  RaflFerty  had  disappeared ;  theti  sidled  up  to 
tho  bar  with  the  others.  "  Yes,  it  is.  I  knew  there'd  be 
trouble.     Didn't  I  tell  you  so?" 

"  You  did,"  corroborated  Maguirc  airily,  "  and  didn't 
I  back  up  your  statement  the  moment  I  came  in  ?  " 

"  You  did  that,"  commented  several  others  together. 

Ramsay  stood  treat  and  then  someone  else  projKJsed 
to  do  the  same  thing,  but  Ramsay  said  he  had  reached 
his  limit  and  must  go. 

"  By  the  way,  what's  your  name,  youngster  ? "  he 
asked. 

"  Pat  Maguire." 

"  Well,  that's  a  good,  handy  workable  name  for  this 
precinct;  a  darned  sight  better  than  Ramsay,  if  you're 
going  in  for  politics.  Better  walk  down  the  street  with 
me  a  bit." 


"This  mi.nht  be  the  fate  of  a  politici.in  "  273 

'•  I  was  to  wait  luTc  for  an  oM  friend  of  mine  that's 
win-.  Iinaii  on  om-  of  ilu"  fi-rriis." 

I'iu-  bartin.Ur  k-aiu.l  over  tlic  counts,   and  wli-'sivred 

"nh,"  cried  ilu-  latter  HiappiiiL'  his  tiuirers    "  I  ,l,..,V 

care  tha,  for  M.ke  Kan^.tv.  '  ^lA-a/u  lu.a  me  because 

don  t  want  any  favour  from  him.    Ths  is  a  free  coun- 

tnr  her  than  the  end  of  y..-     u..ses.     It  was  j'.oss  Hradiey 
v.nt  tns  ,nan  here,  and  :  .     „ts  a  hi,i,rj,aT  swath  in  :.ew 

that  httle  point       t  seems,  as  far  as  [  ca..  make  ont.  that 
Mafjmre  here  is   Hradlev's  man." 

••  He  IS  that."  emphatically  chime<l  in  Tom.  who  seemed 
to  liaye  a  j-rovelhn/-  respect  for  the  majority 

^()u  can  see  your  wheelman  another  time,  ^ra£^uire. 
I-erry-hoats  don  t  «:«  up  to  .Mhany  „r  over  to  Europe. 
Come  alonfj  with  me."  ' 

•'I  don-t  mind  if  I  ,Io.    Tell  the  pilot  I'll  see  him  lac 
Uoolan.    added  Alaguire  to  the  bartender, 
io 


i 


CHAPTER   II 


WE  QUARREL  IN  PRINT 


li 

i 

1 

1, 

ID 

'. 

II 

1-^ 

'i 

i 

-1 

.' 

Once  out  on  the  pavement,  Ramsay  threw  an  in- 
dicative thumb  over  his  shoulder  in  the  direction  of  the 
saloon  they  had  just  left,  and  remarked: 

"  You  mustn't  think  I  spend  much  of  my  time  in 
there.  I'm  really  a  busy  man,  but  I  have  to  stand  in  with 
all  sorts  of  people,  alth()U'j;h  I  don't  take  a  great  deal 
of  interest  in  politics.  Mike  Rafferty  is  laying  pipe  for 
his  election  as  alderman  from  this  ward  in  November, 
and  he  came  round  for  me  with  one  or  two  of  his  hangers- 
on,  and  we  all  went  to  the  saloon  to  save  the  country. 
I  am  manager  of  tli  Xew  Amstel  printing  works,  and 
we  get  a  good  deal  of  printing  from  both  parties,  so  a 
man  can't  be  too  mighty  particular  what  company  he 
keeps.  Political  printing,  tickets,  handbills  and  that 
sort  of  thing  is  profitable,  for  they  don't  look  too  closely 
at  the  accounts,  or  kick  at  the  prices,,  as  is  the  case  with 
commercial  work.  Do  vou  know  anything  about  print- 
ing?" 

"  Not  a  thing."' 

"  W' ell,  printers  are  a  hard  set  of  men  to  get  along  with, 
as  a  general  rule.  They're  too  blamed  intelligent,  for 
one  thing.  They  read  too  much.  Next  tr.  cigar-makers, 
who  talk  too  much,  they're  the  most  difficult  to  deal 
with.  The  New  Amstel  is  not  a  union  office,  and  some- 
times I  think  there  would  be  less  trouble  if  it  were,  but 
the  boss — that's  the  owner,  for  I'm  boss  practically — 
won't  have  a  union  man  in  the  place,  if  he  can  help  it. 
There  was  a  strike  five  years  ago  that  cost  him  a  lot  of 
money,  and  the  New  Amstel's  been  out  of  the  union  ever 
since.  That  causes  friction,  for  I  guess  I  take  on  union 
hands  in  spite  of  myself ;  they  talk  among  our  men,  and, 
274 


"We  quarrel  in  print"  275 

first  thinjr  I  know,  we  are  in  trouble.    Now.  I'm  an  ea«y- 
Koinj-   fellow   myself  and   like   to   have   thin;;s   ninninj' 
smooth.     1  had  an  assistant  that  the  men  j^ot  down  on 
and  last  week  he  was  taken  to  the  hospital.    He  had  no 
backbone  and  was  afraid  of  the  men.  anvhow.    You  see 
I  use  an  assistant  as  a  house  uses  a  lisInnim;-rod  to  take 
away  the  surplus  electricity.     1  hire  him  to  become  un- 
popular instead  of  me,  and  sometimes  there's  too  much 
electricity.     Now  why  does  a  youn-  man  like  you  want 
o  fro  m  for  politics?  It's  a  disappointing,  heart-breaking 
business  at  best,  and  youVe  sure  to  get  thrown  sooner  or 
ater.     You  d  make  far  more  in  the  long  run  at  some 
legitimate  work. ' 

"  Well,  to  tell  the  truth,  Mr.  Ramsay,  I'm  a  bov  to  talk. 
1  ve  got  the  gift  of  gab.  an'  politics  seems  to  me  the 
only  thing  ,n  this  country  that  gives  a  chance  to  the 
man  with  a  wagging  tongue." 

and—"   ^  ^°"^  ''"°^^'     ^  '^^'■'^'^  preaching  and  peddling, 

"  I've  just  left  the  road.     I  was  a  pedlar,  and  there's 
too  much  footwork  and  not  enough  cash  or  glory  about  it 
as  the  postman  said."  ^  ' 

''  Now,  look  here.  I  want  a  man  like  you,  who  can 
sof  -soap  the  boys  with  hs  tongue,  and  knock  one  down 
with  his  fist  if  occasion  should  rec|nire  it.  I  can  pay  you 
good  money,  and  it  needn't  interfere  with  vour  politics 
a  bit.    What  do  you  say?"  " 

"  It  isn't  a  bad  idea;  but  I  don't  understand  the  nrint- 
ing  business."  * 

"  I  understand  the  printing  business,  and  I'll  tell  you 
what  to  do.  What  I  want  you  for  is  to  take  the  blame 
r.enerally.  Then  when  the  men  complain  to  me  I'll  say  I 
have  a  contract  with  you,  which  will  be  true,  and  they'll 
try  to  make  things  lively  for  you,  so  you  won't  stay  I 
expect  you  to  stay."  " 

"  That  vvould  likely  fall  in  with  my  own  notion  for 
the  throw-him-out  game  is  one  that  two  can  plav  at  an.] 
rouses  opposition.  I'd  be  on  the  spot,  anyhow,  when' they 
were  doing  the  throwing."  "^ 

Ramsay  laughed. 


276 


The  Victors 


f     ■    " 


''  That's  the  kind  of  man  I  want."  he  said. 

"  But  I'm  not  at  all  satisfied  with  my  acquaintance  with 
Mike  Rafferty,"  remarked  Maguirc/changincr  the  sub- 
ject. "  I'd  like  to  see  some  more  of  that  bully  boy. 
What'd  be  the  chance  of  my  beatincr  him  for  ald'erman 
of  this  ward?  I'd  like  to  help  on  the  good  jT"vernment  of 
th  s  c^'ty.  that  the  papers  are  always  clamouring-  for." 

*'  You  mean,  to  get  the  Tamnianv  nomination^  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Not  the  slightest  chance  in  the  world.  Raflferty'll 
have  all  the  primaries  fixed,  and  after  that  he's  sure  of 
election.  They'll  count  him  in  anyhow,  but  they  don't 
need  to  do  any  fraudulent  counting  in  this  district,  as 
they  might  in  an  up-town  one.  Mike's  a  sure  enough 
alderman,  unless  Tammany  itself  turns  him  down." 

Lots    of    things    may    happen    between    now    and 
November." 

"  Sure.  Still,  you've  no  show.  If  anvbodv  knocks 
Mike  out  it  will  be  Grady." 

''  Could  I  capture  the  republican  primary  then  ?  '' 

"  Oh,  easy.  But  what  good  would  that  do  vou  ?  A  re- 
publican, or  even  a  decent  democrat,  has  just  as  much 
chance  in  this  ward  as  a  ton  of  ice  would  have  in  the 
devil's  kitchen.  But,  anyhow,  November's  a  long  way 
oflf,  and  you  have  to  do  something  for  a  living,  so  why  not 
have  a  try  with  me?  I  won't  object  to  anv  quiet  elec- 
tioneering you  like  to  do,  after  hours,  on  your  own  ac- 
count. You'll  be  a  resident  of  the  ward,  and  in  business 
in  it.  and  so,  can  get  acquainted  with  the  voters,  which 
is  always  something." 

"All  right,  Mr.Ramsay,  I  don't  mind  if  I  do.  I'll 
very  likely  catch  on.  if  you  don't  expect  too  much  at  first. 
I'm  a  kind  of  jack  of  all  trades  by  nature."' 

They  had  arrived  at  a  four-story-and-a-basement  brick 
building,  exceedingly  rectangular  and  unomamental. 
with  many  plain  dirty  windows.  Up  from  the  basement 
came  the  thrashing  sound  of  numerous  printing  presses, 
and  at  the  back  was  the  intermittent  steamlcss  choo-choo 
of  a  gas-engine,  the  explosion  seeming  to  miss  a  beat  now 
and  then,  and  trying  to  make  up  for  it  by  two  almost 
,  simultaneous  puffs  afterward. 


"We  quarrel  in  print"  277 

They  walked  up  steps  into  a  dingy  hnll,  then  opened  a 
door  to  the  rijfht  that  gave  access  to  a  large  corner  room, 
the  walls  of  which  were  covered  with  posters  of  all  sizes 
printed  in  every  colour  under  the  sun.  ' 

Ramsay  asked  Maguire  to  take  a  chair  for  a  moment 
but  the  newcomer  walked  round  the  room  studving  the 
wall  decorations  1  ke  a  tourist  in  a  picture  gallery     Th" 
nianager  drew  up  his  swivel-chair  to  his  large  desk  and 
plunged  into  the  mass  of  letters  and  proofs  which  had 
accumulated  during  his  brief  absence,  marking  sueees- 
tions,  instructions  and  eliminations  with  a  blue  pencil  on 
various  sized  sheets  of  damp  newlv-printcd  paper,  keep- 
ing the  men  who  attended  to  him  on  the  run.  and  clear- 
mg  off  his  desk  in  a  marvellouslv  short  space  of  time-  a 
striking  instance  of  intense  application,  perfect  knowl- 
edge and  quick  decision.    When  the  last  messenger  had 
gone  he  wheeled  round  in  his  chair,  and  speaking  with  a 
crispness  that  had  been  cntirelv  lacking  in  his  former 
conversation,  he  gave  Maguire  some  curt  information,  to 
which  the  latter  listened  with  more  of  comprehension  than 
might  have  been  expected  from  an  amateur. 

After  their  conference  thev  went  over  the  works  to- 
gether, Ramsay  introducing  his  new  assistant  to  the  head 
of  this  department  and  that,  all  the  men  looking  furtively 
and  curiously  at  the  stranger,  who  for  once  kept  silence 
It  was  next  day  that  the  first  svmptom  of  coming 
trouble  appeared.  The  foreman  of  the  composing-room 
entered  the  manager's  office  with  a  bundle  of  proofs 

Mr.  Ramsay,"  he  said,  "  this  new  man  doesn't  seem 
to  know  anything  about  printing."' 

,  "  ^°/  .  ^^  f"'  ^''■"^^■"  '^"^^^v  a  ?:ood  deal  about  printing, 
but  he  s  in  the  hospital  just  the  same." 

"  I'm  sorry  he  got  hurt.  I  hope  vou  don't  think  the 
composing-room  had  a  hand  in  it.  Mr.  Ramsay." 

"  Oh,  I  know  they  hadn't.  Nobodv  in  the  Works  did  a 
thing  to  him.     They  all  told  me  that." 

"  The  men  thought,  Mr.  Ramsav.  that  when  Brown 
left  you'd  perhaps  promote  some  one  inside  to  his  place. 
I  don  t  think  they  like  a  stranger  coming  in."' 

*'  I'm  sorry  for  that.     To  tell  the  truth,  you're  all  so 


11 


1 


278 


The  Victors 


mm 


■  U: 


efficient  in  your  own  places  that  I  don't  care  to  disturb  the 

From  "tl  "'^'1  M  '^r^''  ^'''  '''■'''  '^  ^'^^  ^»  ^^^i^tant 
from  tl  e  outside  than  to  get  a  good  man  for  any  of  the 
other  departments.'  ^ 

•'  Yes.  But  still,  don't  ycu  think,  Mr.  Ramsav,  that 
an  assistant  ought  to  kiunv  sonietiiing  of  the  business? 
.t  s  demoralising  to  men   who  are  experts  to  have  one 

roUer  ••'""  '  "^  ''"°'''  ^"  "^'^  'i"^''  ^'■°'"  ^"  '"'^- 

"I  think  .vou'll  find  Alaguire  will  pick  up  knowledge 
pretty  tast.     V\  hat  you  say  is  true  enoii-li  in  works  not 
as  well  organised  as  ours,  but  here,  where,  as  you  sav 
every  man  s  an  expert.  I  thought  it  wouldn't  so  much 

matter.     1  hen  you  see.  I've  to  look  to  the  outside.    Ma- 
guires  a  good  talker—" 

"  O,  he  talks  enough." 

"Precisely;  .so  1  thought  after  he  had  picked  up  a  bit 
of  knowledge  he  might  go  ou  and  drum  for  orders 
when  trade  gets  a  bit  slack.  In  these  times  of  keen  com- 
petition and  cut  prices  a  canvasser  is  all  the  better  of 
knowing  what  he's  talking  about.  Then  he  doesn>  bring 
in  orders  that  we  lose  money  on." 

Ram?a°'^  "^°°"   ^°  ^°"   ^''^'^'^^   ^°   ^^"''   ^'"^   °"*'   ^^''• 
"That  depends.    Of  course  the  whole  thing  is  an  ex- 
periment.   iMaguire  may  not  do  at  all.     I  shouldn't  like 
this  to  get  to  him.  but  I  have  serious  doubts  about  his 
siiitabihty.     He  seems  to  have  the  devil's  own  temper 
Yesterday  afternoon  at  the  dropping  of  a  hat  he  knocked 
Mike  Kaflferty  into  the  middle  of  next  week.     It  was 
just   like   that"— Ramsay   smashed   his   hands   together 
One  saucy  word  from  Raflferty,  and  biff,  baff— Mike 
was  on  the  floor  before  you  could  wink.   Never  saw  any- 
thing like  it  outside  a  prize  ring." 

"  I  heard  about  that.     Oh,  he's  the  man,  is  he  ?  "     The 
foreman    showed    keen    and    newlv    awakened    interest 
'  Dulnt  Mike  hit  back?     He's  a 'handy  mao   with  his 
fists. 

"  Hit  back !    He  had  all  he  could  do  to  keep  from  sv;'a'- 
lowing  his  teeth.    Mike  was  dazed,  and  I'll  bet  you  his 


"We  quarrel  in  print"  375 

hcad-s  rinpfinff  yet.  Maftfuire  was  quite  willing  to  take 
on  eveoone  that  was  in  tl,e  saloon,  offering  to  pu,  then 

1  here  were  a  <lozen  ..r  more  of  Raffertv's  hWlers  witli 
h.m.  and  not  one  dared  to  raise  a  hand.  Mike  felt  like  ■> 
sprmp  lamb  that  had  been  through  a  railway  ace  lau'" 
and  had  enough  of  it.     To  tell  the  truth.  I  have  my 

oubts  about  Maguire-s  being  here  very  long,  for  hT's 
nojob,  and  a  man  requires  patience  in  the  priming  busi- 

wron^  '"  lY"  '"'■"'''"  "'".  "^""^•^^'"  I^'-°^^^l  to  be  entirely 
vrong.     Maguire  n.^t  only  picked  up  the  tricks  of  the 

trade  w.th  amaznig  celerity,  but  became  extremely  pop- 
ular with  all  the  men.  *    ' 

He  wrote  long  letters  to  a  girl  in  Michigan,  rivin- 
glowing  accounts  of  his  new  position  and  the  splendou^ 
and  the  lucratiyeness  of  it,  until  in  that  district  it  was 
supposed  that  the  young  man  had  become  a  sort  of  syn- 
dicate for  the  editing  of  all  the  leading  Xew  York  papers 
Ihere  was  even  some  truth  in  his  letters,  but  the  a  oms 
were  surrounded  by  such  a  halo  of  imagination  that  it 
might  have  been  difficult  to  recognise  them.     He  was 
picturing  himself  as  he  wished  to  be  and  as  he  intended 
to  be,  making  thereby  large  drafts  on  the  roseate  future. 
Life   would   not   be   worth    living   ^yere   it    not    for    its 
dreams,  and  dreams  sometimes  come  true.    Why  should 
they  not  in  his  case,  thought   Patrick   IMaguire,  as  he 
wrote  to  the  girl  in   Michigan,  painting  himself  as  he 
wished  her  to  see  him. 


II 


CHAPTER    III 


"  BUT  HE,  SIR,  HAD  THE  ELECTION  " 

When  Greek  met  Greek  there  came  a  tug  of  war  in 
ancient  times,  but  when  politician  meets  politician  in  a 
primary,  modern  pugilism  gets  its  chance. 

Mike  Rafferty  was  taken  entirely  unaware,  for  never 
before  in  that  district  had  there  been  the  slightest  oppo- 
sition to  the  Tammany  slate.  When  the  primary  con- 
vened, one  night  in  Doolan's  saloon,  the  boss  of  the  street- 
cleaning  gang  was  as  sure  of  his  nomination  to  the  office 
of  alderman  as  he  was  that  he  would  drink  much  beer  to 
celebrate  be  event.  The  primary  was  supposed  to  give 
effect  to  the  wish  of  a  majority  of  voters  who  belonged 
to  the  democratic  party  in  the  hundredth  ward,  but  tli? 
nominations  had  all  been  prepared  long  before;  '^^e  slate 
was  cut  and  dried,  if  such  a  phrase  can  be  used  regarding 
slates.  The  strife  between  Rafferty  and  Grady  had  .been 
adjusted,  Grady  getting  a  political  justiceship,  and  there 
was  nothing  to  do  now  but  go  through  the  motions  of 
a  farce,  carried  out  with  that  solemnity  and  decorum 
which  are  the  true  elements  of  humour  in  any  farce.  Ma- 
guire  had  no  erroneous  confidence  that  the  path  he  had 
marked  out  for  himself  was  an  easy  one.  He  knew  the 
weapons  of  surprise  and  speed  were  h's  dependence.  He 
ki.  i)t  well  in  the  background,  while  &'.  delegation  from  the 
printing  works  and  elsewhere,  enthusiastically  solid  for 
him,  pressed  into  the  suffocating,  smoke-filled  room.  If 
they  got  their  chairman  elected,  which  might  happen 
should  the  Rafferty  men  be  caught  napping,  then  they 
would  nominate  the  entire  Tammany  ticket,  with  the 
single  exception  that  the  name  Patrick  Maguire  would  be 
substituted  for  the  name  of  Michael  Rafferty.  Of  course 
there  would  be  a  row,  but  once  get  the  slate  regularly 
280 


^tf 


"  But  he,  sir,  had  the  election  "         281 

chosen  and  the  meeting  broken  up,  the  chiefs  of  the  city 
would  have  some  quahns  about  reversing,-  the  action  of  a 
rcs:ularly  constituted  i)riinary.  even  if  Ihev  didn't  iret  tlie 
alderman  they  wanted.  They  nii^du  drop  Rafferty  and 
pve  mm  somethinjj  else,  but  in  any  case  the  heads  would 
have  to  come  to  terms  with  MaKniire  or  risk  a  local  split 
in  the  party,  which  on  many  accounts  was  a  thine  to  be 
avoided.  " 

So  the  Mas:uire  slate  was  also  cut  and  dried,  and  the 
Majrmre  forces  were  under  his  own  personal  leadership 
whde  Grady  was  to  command  the  Rafferty  cohorts  so  as 
to  give  the  pleasant  effect  of  a  union  of  hearts  before  a 
critical  public,  for  the  Grady-Raft'erty  disagreement  had 
occupied  some  space  in  the  papers  for  a  while  past.  It 
had  been  suggested  that  Rafferty  sh.ould  stav  away,  and 
atterward  receive  the  nomination  with  that  surpris" 
which  IS  so  charmingly  becoming  when  the  office  unex- 
pectedly seeks  the  man  ;  but  whether  it  was  that  Mike  was 
too  seasoned  a  politician  to  allow  his  backers  to  act  ex- 
cept under  his  own  eye,  or  whether  his  distrust  of  Gradv 
was  not  as  much  allayed  as  his  own  partv  papers  said  it 
was,  Mike  was  present,  although  Gradv  was  more  prom- 
inently to  the  fore.  Grady  called  the' primary  to  order 
a  chairman'  *°  ^^  ^""""^  ^"°"^''  ^°  propose  and  to  second 

tIirv"TA"^l',^^''?^y'  ^"^^"^^"  "f  the  typesetters  at 
Uie  New  Amstel  works,  well  known  to  us  all,  to  be  chair- 
man of  this  meeting,"  cr-^d  one. 

..ol^T?,"^  ^"'^  motion,'  ihouted  several  from  different 
parts  of  the  room. 

Grady  glanced  at  the  paper  he  held  in  his  hand  and 
seemed   puzzled,   but   Rafferty   sprang   instantly   to   his 
teet,  and  from  that  moment  took  the  lead 
n„hl!^?^  S,"  •'  "°^^1  «" '  "  J'^  '^"ed.     "  Day's  a  black  re- 
t^ie  peo  le  "        ''  ^  ^"^""^  ^°''  ^"^  overturn  the  wishes  of 

.n!i  I"'!!'"''  ^  \\^r':    ^^-'■''  ^'  ^°°^  ^  democrat  as  you  are, 
and  better.     We're  not  the  street-cleaning  gang!" 
.     "  I  move  Bob  Moriartv."  b  b'*"S  • 

"  Second  it !    Second  i't !  " 


282 


The  Victors 


1=1 


i 


ii       ( 

I 

■  I 


n 


"  All  in  favour  of  Mr.  '  loriarty,  a  Tammany  man  in 
pood  standing'. "  cr'cd  KaffiTty. 

'   Ik-  won't  IiavL"  j;ood  sittinj^  in  that  chair.   You  can't 
ncct  him!     Demand  the  ayes  and  nays!"    (Orcat  con 
fusion )  as  the  papers  say  in  brackets. 

"  1  declare  Robert  Moriarty  elected  chairman  of  this 
meeting.     Mr.  Moriarty,  take  the  chair." 

The  Moriartyites  were  in  a  visible  minority,  and  this 
decision  was  fraudulent,  rankly  fraudulent ;  neverthe- 
less Moriarty,  a  detcrmined-look'njj  man,  came  forward, 
while  messon<jers,  rcceivinjj^  whispered  instructions  from 
Rafferty,  s(|ueeze(l  throu},^li  the  «eethinj3^  crowd  to  the 
door  and  ran  for  "lelp.  It  was  Rafferty's  jjamc  to  fight  for 
time,  and  the  chairman  began  to  read  something  tha' 
could  not  be  heard  in  thy  uproar.  His  elocution,  how- 
ever, was  speedily  cut  short,  for  the  powerful  Magutre 
shouldered  himself  forward  from  his  retirement  and 
flung  the  astonished  chairman  among  the  crowd. 

"  Fair  play !  Fair  pla^  !  "  roared  Maguire.  "  All  in 
favour  of  Moriarty  hold  up  the  ri':jht  hand." 

The  Rafferty  party  disdained  to  vote ;  they  saw  the 
hour  for  figliting  had  arrived. 

"  Contrary — Moriarty 's  defeated !  John  Day  takes 
the  chair!  " 

But  Day  didn't.  It  was  now  a  free-for-all  combat. 
Maguire  did  Trojan's  work  trying  to  get  in  a  blow  at 
Rafferty,  but  I'at  was  knocked  flat  with  a  section  of 
broken  char.  He  forced  his  way  to  the  surface  again, 
tattered  and  bleeding,  roaring  like  a  maddened  bull.  H 
all  his  followers  had  been  as  powerful  and  combative  as 
himself  he  might  have  won  the  day,  but  the  resources  of 
politics  were  not  yet  exhausted,  and  Maguire  became 
aware,  like  a  man  in  a  nightmare,  that  a  new  element  had 
intervened.  The  blue-coated  police  had  taken  a  hand  in. 
They  were  laying  about  them  with  their  batons,  and  the 
clubs  were  not  hitting  the  heads  of  the  Rafferty  men. 
The  game  wis  up,  and  Maguire  knew  it. 

"  Break  away !  "  he  shouted. 

"  Seize  that  man !  "  yelled  Rafferty,  pointing  to  Ma- 
guire. "  He's  the  leader.  He  tried  to  break  up  a  peace- 
able, law-abiding  meeting.' 


"But  he,  sir,  had  the  election"       283 

The  police  clove  their  way  toward  Majjuire.  who 
wrenched  the  baton  away  from  the  forei.mst  of  the  force 
ami  struck  the  revolver  from  the  hand  „t  that  officer 
when  he  drew  it.  Tlie  bi^^  window  had  been  smashed 
and  Alasu  re  watching'  hj^  opportunity,  sprang  throuLdi 
the  opcnmg.  1  niging  a  fresh  clatter  of  glass  with  liim. 
and  so  away  down  the  street,  eluding  his  pursuers,  and 
reacnmg  his  own  room  uncaptured. 

Law  and  order  being  re-established  in  the  wrecked 
saloon.  Monartv  took  the  chair  (what  was  left  of  it)  and 
the  I  ammany  ticket  was  nominated  in  its  entirety 

Disgraceful  attempt  to  break  up  a  peaceable  pri- 
r  nl'i;-''"  t''^' /i<-™ocratic  pa^.Ts.  •'  I-^oul  methods  of 
repulhcan  roughs  foded  by  the  police."  "Another 
n.Zl-^  '''"%'''  ^  democratic  meeting."  said  republican 
papers.  Tammany  crushes  free  speech  with  police- 
men  s  clubs.  ' 

^^  You  paid  your  pennies  ard  took  your  choice  of  the 

Maguire  found  it  necessary  to  go  oflf  tc  the  countrv  for 
a  few  days  \ou  leave  it  all  to  us."  said  forei-nn  John 
Uay.  and  he  low.  We'll  see  you  through,  oy  nom- 
inat  ng  you  on  the  republican  ticket,  and  after  that 
they  wont  dare  touch  you.  or  everyone  will  say  that 
t^hey  are  doing  it  because  you  are  an  opposition  candi- 

And  so  it  was.  Maguire  got  a  telegram  in  his  place  of 
retirement  up  in  the  lofty  and  now  nearly  deserted  Cats- 
kills  that  a  most  peaceable  republican  primary  had  been 
held  the  city  republican  ticket  adopted,  with  the  name 
ot  iatrxk  Maguire  set  down  for  alderman  of  the 
hundredth  ward.  Maguire  and  his  backers  knew  there 
would  be  no  keen  competition  for  the  nomination  of  al- 
derman on  the  republican  ticket  in  that  ward,  for  such  a 
candidate  was  merely  put  up  to  be  knocked  down  i<i 
iVovember. 

The  police  hc^d  inquired  at  his  boarding  house  for  Ma- 
guire. and  also  at  the  printing-office.  No  one  knew  where 
he  was.    Ramsay  spoke  soothingly  to  the  force. 

"  I've  got  rid  of  that  young  man,"  he  said.    "  Politics 


I!  it! 


2f^4 


The  Victors 


((iff 


;n 


I  ■  f 

I. 

lii 


and  business  don't  mix.  so  I  told  him  I  could  have  noth- 
mg:  more  to  do  with  him." 

Xeverthcless.  the   lamniany  committee  promptly  took 
the  democratic  printing:  away  from   he  New  Amstel  firm 
which  was  a  blow  against  its  prosperity.     Ramsay  him- 

hhlrTi  IV  ^''7"  ^'"'"l  ''•  '^"^  ^''*-'  ^--''airman  said 
bhintb  that  tliey  took  care  of  their  friends,  and  that  the 
whole  oi)pos.tion  of  the  primary  had  been  traced  to  the 
New  Amstel  works. 

•'  I  believe  that  is  true."  said  Ramsay.  "  but  it  was  all 
on  account  of  Majjui-  and  I've  discharged  him.  Be- 
tween ourselves  I've  always  voted  the  straight  demo- 
cratic tcket.  and  so.  I  think,  have  most  of  the  men  Hut 
we  take  care  of  our  friend^,  too.  and  if  we  have  all  the 
republican  prmtinj?  and  none  of  the  democratic  well 
you  re  going  to  lose  some  votes  in  this  precinct."  ' 

^^  We  can  spare  them."  said  Grady. 

"  True,  you  can  spare  them  in  the  precinct,  and  in  the 
ward,  but  you  need  all  you  can  get  in  the  city  aiid  the 
state.  ' 

•'()h.  the  city's  all  right." 

"  Well,  it's  hard  to  punish  us  because  one  of  our  men 
happens  to  turn  out  an  obstreperous  politician,  especially 
as  I  sacked  him  the  nrnute  I  found  it  out." 

['.  Sf^  ^^^'^  '^^^'^  "f  our  friends."  reiterated  Grady 
1  hen  you  want  us  to  be  your  enemes.  I  tell  vou  what 
It  IS,  Mr.  Grady,  when  this  gets  out.  Rafferty  will  be  cer- 
tain of  what  he  has  strong  suspicions  already,  which  is 
that  you  want  to  knife  him  quietlv  if  you  get  a  chance  " 

^^  Katterty  knows  better  than  that." 

"Indeed  he  doesn't,  and  when  you  turn  down  a  factory 
having  more  than  two  hundred  and  fifty  voters  in  it  I 
Snfs't  "  ^°  ""^  ^'  '^  ^^'""'^  ^^^  something  in  his 

■'  It's  Rafferty  himself  that  insisted  the  printing  should 
be  taken  away  from  you.  I  don't  care  who  does  the  work. 
See  Rafferty,  and  if  he's  willing  to  give  you  the  printing 

At  that  m.  -ent  Rafferty  came  in.  and  nodded  sullenlv 
to  the  manager.  Relations  between  the  two  men  had 
been  strained  ance  the  knock-down  in  the  saloon 


"  But  he,   sir.  had  the    election  '       285 
''  How  are  you.  Mr.  Rafferty?    I've  just  droppcl  in  to 

Kafftrty      Im    not    responsible    for    MaLniire     ami    f 
bounced  h.m  as  soon  as  I  heanl  of  his  ruct'  n  a    the 
primary.     I  haven't  seen  him  since  - 
^^.^  You  knew  the  kin.l  of  ,nan  he  was  before  you  hired 

•'Well,  you  see    I  wanted  someone  who  could  control 
lie  men   and  he  .lul  control  tlu-m.  but  not  in  the  w"v 

nLnh  nd  'r  ^•'-""^V'«<-'»<  an.l  applied  for  his  ohl  oi 
.Uaui.  and  I  refused,  there  would  be  a  riot  in  the  works 
when  the  men  found  it  out." 

Brothers'"''  '^'^  "'''''•     '^ '''  l^-'ntin^s  jjiven  n,  Si.n.son 

an.  le  it.  They  have  neither  the  inachinerv  nor  the  men  • 
they  re  paper-ba^  makers.  Thev  cant  do  i.anner  S 
on  the  one  hand,  nor  ticket  work  on  the  other,  ami  7'T^t 
out  on  time.  1  know  what  election  printing  is.  There 
will  be  last  moinent  chans^es.  and  then  vou  will  be  Hhiff 
round  for  (.od's  sake,  and  it  will  be  aii  all-ni^ht  sesVion 
in  the  press-room,  with  every  available  man  and  machine." 

^^  ^ims.m  I.rothers  take  the  risk  of  that  ' 

n.Vlf."';  "  •",'•  ^^'-  ^i^^^'^^y-'  y^"  take  the  risk,  and  a 
mighty  big  risk.  too.  Suppose  you  have  no  tickets  on  the 
morning  of  the  seventh,  what  ^ood  are  thev  g,  ng  to  do 
you  on  the  morning  of  the  eighth  ?  "  -   ^      *> 

V  "  ^v*""?* ',  ^'''V'^  of  other  places  to  get  printing  done  in 
Xew  York  besides  either  yours  or  Simsons' " 

"x\ow,  Rafferty.  that  remark  shows  how  little  you 
know  about  the  printinrj  trade.  There  will  be  a  rush  in 
every  office  in  town.  You'll  get  plenty  of  printing  done 
the  day  alter,  but  not  when  you  must  have  it  Xo-v 
we  ve  always  delivered  orders  promptly  to  the  miuMtV 
and  you  know  I  won't  say  a  word  about  the  fact  that 
we  ve  over  two  hundred  and  rifty  voters  in  the  works  " 

"(^h,   you   can't   threaten    mo.    Mr.    Ramsav.     I'll   be 
elected  in  sp'te  of  you  and  your  men.  and  when  I'm  al- 
.  --rnan  it  wdl  he  a  sorry  day  for  you,  the  day  you  turned 
.  .ainst  me. ' 


mi' 


fi!!lh 


286 


mu 


m' 


I 


ill 


;  J 


! 


!?!»'! 


f| 


Tlic  Victors 


"  I  <lon't  threaten,  and  I'm  nut  aj^ainst  you     It's  vmi 
who  arc  (I()in«:  tht-  threatenin^r."  ^ 

;;  VVVIl  let  you  have  tlic  printin^f  next  year.' 

Iheres  no  election  next  year."  ^ 

J  ''^T  'io  tl'at."  corrolH)rate(l  the  chairman     After  all 
u^  none  of  h.s  atT;nr  if  Rafferty  cause.I  ,h;:a   Ifa^ 

as  4,  L  ,";,  like"''''""'  ">""  ""  '"""■■  ""  """  ^f^'" 

war  to  the  knife,  eh? 
"And  tile  knife  to  the  hilt." 
^^  VVho's  jroinjr  to  print  the  tickets?" 

isinison   Brothers." 
;'  I  know  some  of  the  fellows  there  " 

grancImotlHT  to 'Jl^ck  ei,;;i  •     ''•     ^""  ^'^"  ^  '^'^'^^  y^"*" 
"  r^ook  .here,  Ramsay,  the  ease  of  the  trick  lies  -n  fl-.. 
very  safety  of  this  district.     People  tha  \n  ro,l 
careless."  cupie  mat  are  cock-sure  are 

"  I  shouldn't  count  too  much  on  that,  if  1  were  von 
The  vvork  at  the  primary  put  then,  on    he  r  g  ard    ai^d 
i<afferty  s  a  suspicious  man    anvhow  " 

election."  ''''"'  ''  ""  '''^"''  "'  '^''  ''''^'''  '^'^  "'&ht  before 


"  But  he,  sir,  had  the  election  "       287 

"It's  a  mighty  risky  hiisim'ss.  F'at.  and  Im  nm  s.,r» 

but  S,n^  Si„,  i,    ,  ,„,  „„,  .,^  .,  '.^  ,,;,^ll2  Z^'" 

I  II  take  my  chance  ..„  that.    I  wonder  if  it  would  bo 

anyK^HxI.  n,v  tryin^^  to  ^'ct  on  at  Simsons'> '  ^    ' 

whichj,  hk^;^-;l;;z^,-;;-^ 

No.     II  tell  yon  a  Letter  schen,e  than  that.  \s  ms     s  cVi\" 

Bivc')""dfw;  "'"'■■  '■"'■'  ■•"'>■  "«"  i"  ''^'-^  worl.l  I-d 
tyivL  I     ,>eu  awav  to  exccnt  von   for  r  ,i,..,v  it-        ' '  ^  <■' 

M.t  m  ,1,0  f„ron„„„;  „,o„-.,  .he,"  , ho    .  Lnl     "?lc' 

win  DC  all  rifi^ht.     VVell  STuarantec  Simsons  and  flw.v'n 

own  clJt, .    *  1?        11  i'<i>n.  over  Karrertv  s  name  mv 

ownshp:      l^or  alderman,  fatrick  Mamniv  '    T'lt  J  /  1 

second  or  third  one,  de  ye  see?  down  through  the  middle 


•  -   i 


288 


The  Victors 


m 


\i 


ffllif, 


1^ 


of  the  bunch.  Then  we'll  just  have  to  risk  it.  Thev  may 
find  It  out  before  it's  too  late,  and  they  may  not.  If  they 
don't,  then  I'm  elected  alderman  for  the  one-hundredth 
ward." 

"  I   wonder  how  many  years  a   man  gets   for  that, 
Patrick  ? " 

"  I  dunno,  but  if  it  succeeds  it  will  be  worth  a  term  as 
the  old  woman  said." 

'•What  a  frightfully  dishonest  man  you  are,  Pat,  if 
you'll  excuse  me  offering  an  opinion." 

"  It's  not  dishonest  at  all.  I  had  a  clear  majority  at 
the  primary,  but  they  broke  our  heads  and  threw  us  out. 
The  nomination  was  mine,  but  they  robbed  me  of  it,  and 
nothing  could  be  done.  I  don't  kick ;  I  go  them  one  bet- 
ter if  I  can.  and  the  way  I  tell  you  is  the  only  way  I  can 
think  of  to  get  an  honest  man  into  the  city  hall.  The 
nomination  was  mine  by  rights,  and  if  it  hadn't  been 
.stolen  from  me  wouldn't  I  have  been  elected  sure?  " 
"  Certain." 

'■'  Well,  then,  what  are  ye  talkin"  about  dishonesty  for?  " 
"  Pat,  I'm  no  politician,  as  you  are  well  aware.     I'll 
not  register  nor  vote  this  election.    I'm  out  of  all  this." 
"  I  don't  want  you  to  lift  a  hand." 
"  No,   but    I'll    lift   a    foot.     I'll   go   on   tramp,   and 
it  strikes  me  that  November  would  be  a  lovely  time  for 
an  excursion.     I'm  off  on  a  little  vacation  to  the  south  on 
the  first  of  November;  I  need  a  rest,  and  I'll  ];e  back  any 
time  between  the  twentieth  and  the  end  of  the  month. 
1 11  leave  you  in  charge." 

"  You  couldn't  do  better,  Ramsay,  and  I  hope  you'll 
have  a  good  time." 

jMaguire  at  least  did  everything  he  could  to  command 
success,  whether  he  deserved  it  or  not.  He  had  the 
tickets  printed  on  exceptionally  thick  sheets,  and  his  own 
slips  done  on  exceptionally  thin  but  opaque  paper,  and  of 
exactly  the  same  tint  as  the  ticket  itself.  He  took  no  one 
into  his  confidence,  but  worked  alone  all  night  in  the 
manager's  office.  When  the  slight  moisture  required  in 
superimposin'T  his  own  name  over  that  of  Rafferty's 
dried,   he   ran  all   the  doctored  tickets  between   heavy 


m 


"But  he,  sir,  had  the  election"       289 

rollers,  and  it  required  a  keen  eye  to  detect  those  that 
were  decorated  from  those  that  were  plain.  As  a  matterof 
fact  the  fraud  was  not  even  suspected  until  election  ni^ht, 
when  the  counting:  of  the  tickets  was  progressing,  and  it 
was   found  to  the  amazement  of  the  enumerators  that 
Raflferty  had  been  running  appallin-ly  behind  the  rest  of 
the  ticket,  on  account  of  'the  heavy  "  scratching-.''     Even 
then  it  was  not  supposed  that  actual  illegality  had  been 
committed,  for  despite  his  being  up  all  night  in  the  man- 
ager s  room,  manufacturing  bogus  tickets,  IMaguire  was 
runnmg  about  from  polling-place  to  poll-ng-place  during 
election  day,  peddling  his  slips,  and  by  his  good-natured 
manner  and  glib  talk  was  actually  succeeding  in  getting 
many  to  accept  his  "  pasters,"  for.  as  he  told  them,  with 
more  truth  than  his  hearers  imagined  at  the  time,  their 
friendly  action  would  have  no  real  bearing  on  the  result. 
"  Of  course,"  he  said  nonchalantly,  "  no  republican  has 
any  chance  in  this  ward,  and  next  "time  I  hope  to  be  on 
the  democratic  ticket  myself;  but  to  do  that,  I  want  to 
have  as  small  a  majority  against  me  as  possible :  so,  if  ye 
give  me  a  bit  of  a  hand  in  a  pinch,  I'm  not  the  man  to 
forget  it." 

Grady  saw  that  if  Maguire  had  two  or  three  helpers 
as  good  as  himself  at  canvassing  and  flattering  and 
appealing  to  the  sympathies  of  the  electorate,  he  would 
run  Rafferty  hard,  so  he  passed  on  the  word  that 
there  was  to  be  no  "  splitting  "  for  sympathy.  "  Vote  the 
straight  ticket,"  was  the  cry,  but  Rafferty  himself  had  no 
fear,  and  could  not  help  snubbing  Grady  for  his  anxietv, 
which  was  a  tactical  mistake. 

The  splitting  necessitated  slow  counting,  and  it  was 
toward  midnight  before  it  became  evident  that  Rafferty 
was  hopelessly  defeated,  although  the  rest  of  the  ticket 
was  overwhelmingly  elected.  Strangely  enough,  not  for 
one  moment  did  Rafferty  suspect  the  real  cause  of 
his  discomfiture,  but  with  ungovernable  temper  jumped 
at  a  totally  wrong  conclusion,  and  began  to  pour 
truculent  abuse  upon  a  person  who,  whatever  his 
past  record,  had  loyally  adhered  to  a  bargain  made. 
A   deal   had   been    concluded;   a   trade;   Raffertv   had 


M     i 


290 


The  Victors 


iU 


\         ': 

tr   ■  I 


been   sold   by  his   friends ;   Grady   was  the   traitor,   and 
his    very    warning   of   that   afternoon    proved    his   guilt 
to    Mike    and    his     friends.     He     would    have     Gradv 
drummed  out  of  the  party.    He  would  fight  him  to  a  fin- 
ish then  and  there.     Grady  said  nothing,  for  he  did  not 
know  what  to  say.    He  suspected  fraud  of  some  kind,  but 
there  had  been  no  chance  for  Maguire  to  stuff  in  bogus 
ballots,  as  the  ballot-boxes  had  been  too  tightly  in  the 
grip  of  Tammany  for  any  but  themselves  to  do  that    Raf- 
ferty-s  violence  was  estranging  even   his  best   friends, 
and  Grady  was  advised  to  retire  duietlv ;  Mike  would 
think  better  of  it  in  the  morning,    hey  said.     As  chair- 
man of  the  committee  he  went  back  to  the  committee 
rooms,  the  altercation  having  taken  place  in  the  rear 
room  of  one  of  the  sal      is  where  counting  was  going  on 
Pondering  over  the  u.-.xpected  result,  knowing  that  the 
ballot-box  was  prolific  of  surprises,  although  generally  its 
action  could  be  foretold  with  reasonable  certainty  in  New 
York,  he  took  from  a  drawer  the  surplus  ticktes  of  the 
day,  examining  them,  like  a  man  shuffling  cards    for  in 
groping  after  an  explanation  of  the  outcome  his  mind 
by  intuition,  turned   toward   some  tampering  with  the 
tickets    rather  than  toward  any  change  in  the  expressed 
will  of  the  people.    Rafferty's  mind  would  have  acted  in 
precisely  similar  manner  had  it  not  been  for  his  deep  dis- 
trust  of  Grady.      Suddenly   the   shuffler   paused   in   his 
shuffling  and  gazed  at  the  words  before  him,  "  For  alder- 
man, Patrick  Maguire,"  on  an  unused  ticket.     A  slight 
smile  parted  the  scrutiniser's  lips,  and  an  expression"  of 
admiration  and  appreciation  came  into  his  keen  eyes.     He 
put  the  ticket  inside,  and  went  rapidly  over  the  papers  in 
the  packet,  every  now  and  then  throwing  out  one  of  the 
slips.     When  he  had  thus  assorted  the  white  and  black 
sheep  into  separate  herds,  he  rescanned  the  white  sheep 
with  vigilance,  to  make  sure  he  had  missed  none  of  the 
black.     The  decorated  tickets  he  put  carefully  into  his 
inside  pocket. 

The  returns  from  the  whole  city  were  now  coming  into 
the  committee  room,  and  were  eminently  satisfactory  to 
the  democratic  party,  with  the  single  exception  of  the 


\~~J^MWh 


"  But  he,  sir,  had  the  election  "        291 

slump  for  the  republican  alderman  in  the  hundredth 
ward.  The  committee  room  was  filling  up  rapidly,  and  a 
man  was  setting  forth  the  results  in  large  figures  on  the 
end  wall.  There  was  a  steady  roar  of  conversation, 
mostly  excited.  One  of  the  leaders  came  in  and  was 
greeted  with  a  cheer.  He  moved  through  the  crowd, 
nodding  here,  shaking  hands  there,  until  he  reached  the 
spot  where  the  chairman  stood. 

"  Hello.  Grady,  you've  given  us  a  little  surprise  in  the 
old  one-hundredth  to-night.  It's  the  talk  of  the  town,  so 
I  thought  I'd  come  down  and  hear  the  disgusting  partic- 
ulars.   How  do  you  account  for  it  ?  " 

"  Oh,  it's  easy  enough  to  account  for.  This  Maguire  is 
a  very  popular  young  man.  He's  a  sort  of  suh-manager 
in  the  Xew  Amstel  printing  works,  and  the  men  there  are 
all  solid  for  him.  That  gave  him  a  good  start,  for  there 
must  be  three  hundred  voters  there,  that  otherwise  Raf- 
ferty  would  have  got.  Then  he  worked,  tooth  antl  nail, 
from  the  opening  to  the  closing  of  the  polls— never  let  up 
for  a  minute.  I  warned  Rafferty  in  the  afternoon  the' 
\vay  things  were  going,  but  he  wouldn't  pay  any  atten- 
tion. You  see  this  Maguire  came  within  an  ace  of  get- 
ting the  democratic  nomination  in  the  first  place.  You  re- 
n-';mber  the  row  at  the  primary?" 

"  Yes.  You  were  chairman,  weren't  you  ?  "' 
"I  was  there  in  charge  till  they  elected  their  own 
chairman.  Maguire  was  in  the  real  majority ;  there's  no 
doubt  abcut  that,  but  we  downed  him,  and  there  was  the 
devil's  own  row.  We'd  have  been  cleaned  out  if  it 
wasn't  for  the  police.  Well,  a  lot  of  the  voters  think  Ma- 
guire did  not  get  a  fair  show,  and  neither  did  he.  That 
accounts  for  another  part.  Then,  of  course,  I  don't  like 
to  say  anything  against  Rafferty,  for  he's  abused  me  like 
a  thief  to-night;  I  don't  mind  that;  every  one  knows  I 
did  my  best ;  still,  he  acts  with  others  the  same  way,  and 
offends  people  right  and  left.  There's  Ramsay,  for  in- 
starce,  an  awfully  decent  fellow ;  always  voted  straight ; 
well,  Rafferty  took  the  printing  away  from  Ramsay's 
firm,  just  because  Maguire  worked  for  him.  although 
Ramsay,  right  in  this  room,  said  he'd  discharged  Ma- 


4; 

liilil 


i'  f 


292 


The  Victors 


guire.  Ramsay  dropped  a  jjood  broad  hint  about  the 
voters  in  his  employ,  but  Rafferty  woaldn't  Hsten  to  rea- 
son, and  now  Ramsay's  gone  off  on  a  vacation.  His  men 
see  he  takes  no  interest  in  the  thing,  so  it's  vote  as  yoa 
please  in  that  establishment." 

*'  Rafferty 's  a  mug,"  said  the  leader.  "  When  he's 
down,  we'd  better  let  him  stay  down.  What  sort  of  a 
fellow  is  this  Maguire?" 

"  Well,  I've  seen  him  fight  at  a  primary  and  work  at 
an  election,  and  it's  my  opinion  that  he's  a  man  to  be 
reckoned  with.  If  Maguire  got  hold  of  the  republican 
organisation,  he'd  make  the  fur  fly." 

"Say,  couldn't  you  have  a  quiet  talk  with  him?  He 
can't  be  too  nasty  ,  articular  in  his  opinions  or  he 
wouldn't  try  to  grab  the  democratic  nomination  and  then 
secure  the  republican  nomination  all  within  a  week." 

"  I  guess  he's  all  right.  I'll  see  him  if  you  say  so, 
but  if  my  visit  comes  to  the  ears  of  Rafferty  he'll  swear 
it's  another  proof  of  my  treachery." 

"Damn  Rafferty.  Don't  let  that  bother  you.  We 
must  have  Maguire  on  our  side  before  the  republicans  get 
hold  of  him.  I  suppose  they  haven't  helped  him  much  in 
this  cont'^st?  " 

"  Not  a  bit,  as  far  as  I  could  sec.  He  helped  himself." 
The  leader  and  Cirady  went  out  together.  The  com- 
mittee room  was  becoming  rather  noisy,  a  good  three- 
quarters  of  those  present  being  well  on  the  road  cowards 
drunkenness.  The  two  partecl  at  the  street  corner,  and 
Grady  went  to  the  nearest  telegraph  office  to  send  off 
some  messages.  The  first  man  he  saw  there  was  Ma- 
guire busily  writing  a  telegram.  (Jrady  stood  near  him 
and  incidentally  cast  an  eye  over  the  dispatch  the  young 
man  was  inditing.  Much  may  be  learned  by  casual 
glances  in  politics.  The  message  was  innocent  enough, 
and,  on  the  surface,  truthful.  It  was  addressed  to  a  Mr. 
Byfield  in  Michigan,  and  it  read : 

"  Patrick  Maguire  was  to-day  elected  alderman  of  the 
city  of  New  York  by  a  big  majority,  on  the  republican 
ticket." 

"That'll  please  'em,"  he  muttered.  ^ey're  all  r  - 

publicans  in  that  district." 


-^'-'    &%■" 


Fi  1h 


"  But  he,  sir,   had  the  election  "      293 

When  Masuire  had  filed  his  despatch,  he  turned,  and 
came  face  to  face  with  the  chairman  of  the  opposition 
committee. 

"  Allow  me  to  congratulate  you  on  your  surprising 
victory." 

"Oh,  it  isn't  the  first  time  I've  beaten  Mike  RafYerty,' 
said  Pat.  with  easy  nonchalance. 

"  So  1  hear.    My  name's  Grady,  as  perhaps  you  know." 

"  ( )h,  yes,  I  know.  You  knocked  me  out  in  the  primary. 
I  remeinhcr  you  well  enough." 

"  All's  fair  in  love,  war  and  politics,  vou  ki.ow,  Mr. 
Maguire." 

"  Bless  you,  I  ain't  kicking — not  to-night.  If  you 
hadn't  knocked  me  out,  though,  there'd  be  one  more 
democratic  alderman  in  New  York  this  evening  than 
there  is." 

"  I  believe  you.     I'd  like  .c  a  word  or  two  with 

you  in  private.  Would  you  mind  jnrng  up  to  my  rooms  ? 
They're  not  far  from  here,  and  I've  somethintr  to  drink 
there." 

"  It's  a  little  late,  and  I'.e  had  a  hard  day's  work.  How 
would  to-morrow  do  ?  " 

"  Oh,  of  course.  It  is  a  little  tough  on  a  man  working 
all  day  and  being  up  all  night  the  night  before." 

"  Tile  night  before  ?  "  echoed  Maguire  taken  aback, 
"  I  don't  understand  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  you  do.     Come  on." 

"  You'll  have  to  excuse  me,  Mr.  Grady,  for  I'm  going 
home." 

"  You've  a  lot  more  sense  than  that,  alderman.  I've 
got  to  talk  with  somebody  about  the  winning  ticket,  and 
it  might  be  better  that  I  should  talk  with  you  than  com- 
plain to  the  authorities." 

"  I  dunno  what  you're  driving  at?" 

"  I  can't  very  well  explain  here.  This  is  one  of  the 
winning  tickets.     Do  you  recognise  it?" 

Grady  took  from  his  pocket  a  pasted  ballot-paper,  and 
handed  it  to  the  new  alderman.  Maguire  looked  at  it 
for  a  moment. 

*'  Who's  up  in  your  rooms  ?  "  he  asked. 


ill 


i': 

I 


294 


The  Victors 


;'V 


Pit 


I  .-n  all  alone.    There'll  be  nobody  there  but  me  and 
I  ve  all  the  rest  of  the  counterfeit  tickets  in  my  pocket  " 
"All  right.     I'll  go  with  vou." 

"  C.ood.    I'll  make  no  attempt  to  murder  you,  or  kidnap 
you.  ^ 

"  I'm  not  afraid." 

Grady's  flat  proved  to  be  a  most  comfortable  suite  of 
apartments.  The  room  into  whicli  he  brought  Maguire 
was  luxuriously  furnished,  and  although  already  well 
heated  by  steam,  its  owner  struck  a  match  and  applied 
It  to  a  coal  fire  laid  on,  thus  adding  a  cheerful  blaze  to  the 
dlummation  of  the  lamps.  Maguire  threw  himself  into 
an  easy  chair,  which  the  politician  wheeled  round  for  him 
in  front  of  the  open  fire,  to  enjoy  the  warmth  after  the 
chilliness  of  the  air  outside.  "  What  wiil  you  have  beer 
whisky,  brandy  or  wine?  "  asked  Grady.  '  ' 

"  I  don't  care  at  all,"  replied  Maguire,  suppressing  a 
yawn.    "  I'll  take  whatever  you  take." 

"  I  guess  a  sandwich  or  two  wouldn't  do  us  any  harm 
I  can  t  remember  whether  I've  had  lunch  or  dinner  to-day 
or  not,  but  my  appetite  seems  to  think  I  haven't.    Any- 
how, I'll  forage  and  see  what  I  have  in  the  shanty." 

(irady  set  out  some  bottles  and  glasses  on  the' table, 
then  he  disappeared  for  a  time  and  returned  with  a  tray 
load  of  provisions.  "  Thank  heaven.  I've  found  some 
oysters.  Will  you  h^ve  them  raw.  or  shall  I  cook  them.?  " 
There  being  no  answer  he  louked  round  at  Maguire. 
His  legs  were  stretched  out  and  his  chin  was  sunk  on  his 
breast.  It  needed  no  second  glance  for  his  host  to  see 
that  the  young  man  was  in  a  sound  sleep.  Grady,  a 
cynical  smile  on  his  lips,  stood  on  the  hearth-rug  a  few 
moments  regarding  him:  "That's  what  it  is  to  have  a 
clear  con scence."  he  murmured  to  himself;  then  aloud 
he  cried  :  "  Hello,  alderman !  Wake  up  and  vote.  Don't 
you  want  anything  to  eat?'' 

Patrick  pulled  himself  together  with  a  deep  sigh. 
"  Have  I  been  asleep?  "  he  asked,  blinking;  then,  with 
a  burst  of  confidence,  as  if  his  host  were  his  oldest  and 
de.nrest  friend,  instear!  of  a  man  who  had  ihreatened  him 
with  prosecution  a  few  minutes  before,  he  added :  "  Sav, 
Grady,  old  man,  I'm  done  right  out."' 


WTf' 


ISBSBPv 


"  But  he,  sir,  had  the  election  "       295 

"  I  see  you  are,"  said  the  hardened  politician,  his 
heart  warming'  toward  his  j^-ucst.  "  llcn-'s  a  cocktail  I 
can  reconimcnd  to  i)ut  new  life  into  you.  Then  draw  up  a 
chair  and  have  some  jjrub ;  after  that  I've  jjot  a  room  here 
for  you.  You're  not  goiiifr  home  at  this  hour  in  the 
morninjjf." 

"  Lord,  I'd  he  satisfied  to  lie  right  down  on  the  lloor. 
Say,  that  tcjuches  the  spot,  doesn't  it?  Uh,  by  the  way, 
you  wanted  to  talk  to  me,  didn't  you?  Well,  now's  your 
chance,  before  I  drop  off  asleep 'again.     Fire  away." 

"  Well,  it  was  only  about  sort  of  working  together,  you 
knovy.  The  republican  party  is  no  good  in  this  town. 
You've  elected  yourself  for  once,  but  vou  can't  do  it 
again  on  the  republican  ticket." 

"  I  don't  want  to.  I  went  up  last  summer  U  ee  the 
Boss,  but  he  had  no  use  for  me.  I  guess  he'll  listen  now, 
and  give  me  a  show.  I'm  going  to  drop  in  and  sec  him  in 
a  day  or  two." 

"  Haven't  you  any  fear  your  election  will  be  over- 
turned ?  " 

"Lord,  no!  Who  should  overturn  it?  Not  the  re- 
publicans, for  I'm  elected  on  their  ticket.  Not  the  demo- 
crats, for  I'm  ready  for  a  deal.  It's  as  straight  as  a 
string,  Grady ;  I  knew  it  would  be  all  right  if  vou  didn't 
tumble  to  the  racket  before  the  polls  closed,  and  so  had 
time  to  stuff  the  bo.xes  and  count  nic  out.  It's  too  late  to 
do  anything  now." 

Grady  laughed. 

"  You've  got  some  pretty  red-hot  ideas  about  the  wav 
elections  are  carried  on  in  New  York.  Wc  don't  stuff 
ballot-boxes  nowadays." 

'•  I  did.'' 

Again  Grady  laughed.  There  was  an  original  frankness 
about  the  vdlamy  of  his  new  acquaintance  that  was  re- 
freshing. 

"  How  did  you  get  at  the  tckets?  " 

"  Bless  you,  I  printed  'er.i ;  that's  whv  the  paper's  so 
thick,  so  the  pasting  wouldn't  show.  Ramsay  told  you 
Smisnn   couldn't  do  the  tickets." 

"Did  he?  I'd  forgotten." 


IIP 


296 


The  Victors 


m 


ii{ 


'  : 


"  Was  there  many  of  the  wrong  ones  left  ?  " 

"  Not  very  many ;  here's  the  bunch." 

Grady  drew  the  packet  from  liis  pocket  and  threw  it 
on  the  table.  Maguire  examined  them  with  thoughtful 
interest. 

"  No  wonder  Kafferty  got  a  dose,  if  that's  all  that's 
left  over.  Sure  you  didn't  overlook  any  in  the  committee 
room,  (iradv? 

"  Quite  sure." 

"  Then,  lets  call  it  square,"  said  Maguire.  with  a  grin, 
as  he  tossed  the  accumulation  of  tickets  on  the  open  fire, 
where  they  burst  into  a  blaze  that  had  almost  the  effect  of 
an  explosion. 

Grady  made  no  effort  to  recover  his  evidence,  but 
leaned  back  in  his  chair  and  roared. 

"  I  say,  Maguire,  you're  a  cool  hand  for  a  youngster. 
You'll  either  land  in  the  state's  chair  as  governor,  or  in 
the  state's  prison  as  convict.  You  forget  that  some  of  our 
canvassers  have  bunches  of  these  tickets  in  their  pockets, 
and  that  any  one  of  them  may  stumble  on  the  slips." 

Not  much  chance  of  that,  Grady.  A  ticket's  only 
waste  paper  when  the  poll's  closed.  No,  where  the  real 
danger  lies  is  in  this.  An  examination  of  the  ballot-box 
would  show  which  I  had  pasted  and  which  had  been 
pasted  by  my  friends.  I  had  to  do  it  pretty  slick,  so  that 
you  folks  that  were  handling  the  ticKets  wouldn't  catch 
on.  I  sort  of  supercalendered  the  bogus  tickets,  as  we 
say  in  the  trade.  I  knew  there  was  danger  in  my  peddling 
the  tickets,  for  there  was  bound  to  be  a  difference  between 
the  genuine  pasters  and  the  green  goods  yonr  men  were 
shoving  into  the  box,  but  I  had  to  hustle  round,  so's  to 
account  for  the  scratching  when  the  count  came  on.  I 
tell  you,  a  man  has  to  look  sixteen  ways  for  Sunday  on 
election  day.  But  if  it  was  all  to  be  done  over  again  I'd 
risk  beatng  Rafferty  on  the  straight  legitimate.  Gi'  me 
two  weeks  before  election,  and  I'd  snow  him  under." 

"  I  guess  you're  about  right.  When  I  run  for  mayor 
of  New  York  I'd  like  you  to  manage  the  campaign." 

"  I'll  do  it,  Grady,  and  land  you  there  with  the  biggest 
majority  ever  counted." 


:jr^3iW-.:»y-^5-::issi"; 


"  But  hu,  sir,  liad  the  election  "       29; 

"  Then  T  may  take  it,  you're  poins:  to  work  with  us?" 
"  You  bet !     I  intended  that  from  the  first." 
"  Tliat's  all  right.    There's  no  more  to  be  said.     Now 
I'd  like  to  give  a  little  sujiper  up  here  some  iiij,dit  and 
introduce  you  to  IJradley  and  a  few  of  the  leatlers.  on 
the  quiet,  you  know,     (if  course,  to  outsiders,  you're  a 
republcan.     Any  objection?" 
"  Certainly  not.     Delighted." 

"  Enough  said.    I  see  you  want  to  get  to  bed,  so  come 
along,  and  I'll  show  you  }  our  room." 


MM 


.  f 


CHAPTKR    IV 


SACK   GREAT  ROME   WITH   ROMANS  " 

The  little  dinner  which  Mr.  Grady  pave  in  honour 
of  F'alrick  MaRuire  was  a  j^reat  success  from  whatever 
point  it  may  be  viewed.     The  table  was  spread  in  the 
dining-room    of    Cirady's    flat,    for    in    that    apartment 
talk    could  be    more    free    than    at  even    the    most    ex- 
clusive  restaurant   or   hotel;   besides    there  were   many 
newspaper  men  prowling  nbout  the  town  seeking  what 
innocent  politician  they  might  devour,  and  it  was  per- 
haps,  as   well   to   keep   from   their   knowledge   the    fact 
that  the  chiefs  of  the  democratic  party  were  drinking,  in 
prime  champagne,  the  health  of  the  latest  elected  repub- 
lican alderman,    (irady  graced  the  head  of  the  table,  with 
Maguire  at  his  right  hand  and  the  Boss  of  New  York  him- 
self on  his  left.    Down  the  table  were  half  a  dozen  of  the 
men  who  ruled  the  huge  city.    The  choice  eatables  were 
sent  in  from  a  neighbouring  restaurant  which  was  fam- 
ous, and  they  might  have  been  prepared  in  the  next  room, 
so  perfect  was  the  service.     The  small  pariy  was  deftly 
waited  upon  by  Grady's  own  man.  an  English  butler,  one 
vvho  knew  his  business  thoroughly ;  a  person  of  illimitable 
silence,  with  a  prophetic  instinct  which  led  him  to  antici- 
pate the  wants  of  a  guest  when  the  desire  was  only  half 
formulated  in  the  guest's  mind.    The  imperturbability  of 
his  clean-shaven  face  was  never  disturbed,  and  the  fun- 
niest stories  were  told  in  his  presence  with  no  more  effect 
on  his  impassive  countenance  than  if  thcv  had  been  re- 
lated to  the  Sphinx.    The  slightest  glance  from  his  master 
was  translated  into  the  required  action  by  the  man,  with 
an  accuracy  which  might  scarcely  have  been  expected  to 
follow  verbal  instructions.     Grady  was  justly  proud  of 
this  servant.     The  new  world  was  redressing  the  injus- 
298 


i~^L»^ 


"  Sack  great  Rome  with  Romans  "      299 

tice  of  the  old ;  the  Saxon  was  the  humble  servitor  of  the 
I)r()ii(l  Celt. 

The  Boss  talked  little  and  drank  sparinplv,  but  none 
of  the  other  quests,  except  Ma^uire.  followed  tliis  tem- 
perate example.  They  talked  more  and  more  excitedly  as 
tlie  meal  went  on,  and  sometimes  seemed  to  trench  in 
affairs  which  cooler  men  would  have  discussed  in  secret, 
on  which  occasions  th.  I'.oss  seemed  uneasv.and,ahhonf,di 
he  never  said  anythin^^  he  cast  a  Klance  nmv  and  then  at 
the  chairman,  if  tiu-  host  mi.t;lit  be  so  called,  and  (irady. 
with  ready  wit.  flrew  a  red  hcrrinj;  across  the  trail  of 
i.Jjndicious  controversy.  He  reco>,miscd  that  it  was  not 
well  to  let  Ma.tjuire  too  deeply  into  the  secrets  of  the  con- 
clave, until  they  knew  more  of  his  intentions,  and  until  he 
was  more  thoronslily  one  of  them.  However.  .Ma^'uire 
thd  not  appear  to  understand  what  was  said,  and  gave 
no  sijrns  of  his  customary  alertness  of  mind. 

When  the  meal  was  finished,  cijjars  lit  and  the  coterie 
left  to  themselves  by  the  impassive  servitor  who  waited 
on  them,  the  i!oss  had  some  talk  across  the  table  with 
MatTuirc,  (]rady  ihrowins  i"  a  quiet  word  now  and  then. 

"  You  ve  started  well,  Mr.  Maguire,"  remarked  the 
Hoss. 

"I  can't  say  that  I  di<l,  Mr.  I'.radlev,"  replied  Patrick 
affably.  "  You  .seemed  to  think  all  I  was  fit  for  was  to 
go  on  the  street-cleaning  gang,  and  when  1  thried  for 
to  show  that  I  might  be  of  use  at  a  democratic  primarv, 
me  friend  (irady  here  threw  me  out." 

"It  was  Rafferty  did  that."'  submitted  Cradv;  "but 
you  had  your  revenge  on  hiiu  at  the  polls." 

"I  had  that.  I'.y  the  mighty  will  of  the  people,  I 
turned  the  rascal  out,  as  the  saving  goes,"  and  Maguire 
winked  at  (Irady. 

^  "  I  never  thought  much  of  Rafifcrty,"  continued  the 
P.oss ;  •'  he  depends  more  on  his  mouth  than  on  his  brains. 
But  now  that  Rafferty's  out  of  it.  would  vou  like  to  have 
charge  of  the  street-cleaning  gang  vourself?" 

"1  was  just  complaining  that  I'had  been  sent  there 
once  too  often  before." 

"Oh,  yes,"  put  in  Grady;  "but  it's  a  different  thing 


'.*^' 


1    ,r. 


''^ 


M 


Mil 


!!| 


S  ^s 


'M^JMm, 


300 


The  Victors 


poiiiK'  t'KTc  as  lu-ad  of  tlic  precinct  to  j^oin;^'  there  and 
liaiidlinj^'  a  slutvil." 

"Oh.  true  enoiijjh;  but  I'm  a  ihfTerent  man  from  what 
called  on  the  Hoss  at  the  time  I  speak  of.  Then  I  was 
Tat  Maj,'uirc  of  Xowhere-at-all ;  now  I'm  Mr.'MaL'uire. 
alderman  of  the  city  of  Xew  York." 

"  What  is  it  you  want?  "  in(|uired  the  I'.oss  gravely. 
"  I  want  s')mething  petural,  not  Kxai.  Mr.  ISradlev. 
I  want  .sometliinj,'  tliat  will  take  me  all  over  the  city.  It's 
an  interesting,'  town,  and  I  would  like  to  study  it.  If 
there's  a  little  salary  helouKinp  to  the  j)lacc,  just  enough 
for  a  quiet  man  to  live  ou  ami  j.,Mve  a  dinner  like  this  now 
and  then  to  his  friends,  why.  I'm  not  the  boy  to  make 
any  kick  aj^ainst  that." 

"  You  .-^ee,  Mr.  M.'iguire.  our  difficulty  is  this:  all  the 
large  offices  are  rilled,  and.  indeed,  so  arc  the  small  ernes  as 
well.  You've  downed  Mike  KafTertv.  and  so  I  thought  it 
was  only  fair  that  you  should  have  his  job.  There  could 
be  no  row  on  that  score.  Hut  to  put  some  well-known 
man  out  of  a  place  and  put  you  in,  you  see  yourself  there 
would  be  trouble,  especially  as  you  are  such  a  newcomer, 
w:th  -u'  .  ny  panicular  following." 

"  I  had  particular  following  enough  to  elect  me  alder- 
man of  the  hundredth  ward."  As  Maguire  said  this  he 
looked  keenly  at  the  P.oss.  The  latter,  however,  showed 
no  sign  of  being  aware  that  the  following  was  a  mythical 
one,  so  Grady  had  evidently  not  said  anything  of  his 
post-election  discovery.  As  Maguire  glanced  at  his  host 
there  was  a  slight  smile  on  Grady's  lips,  and  a  slight 
lowering  of  the  eyelid. 

"  I  think,"  saui  Grady  quietly,  "  there  is  not  much  use 
in  discussing  followings.  The  better  plan  would  be  for 
Mr.  .Maguire  to  say  what  would  suit  him;  then  we  could 
see  what  might  be  done." 

"You  want  nic  to  help  you  out  ?"  cried  Maguire.     "  I'll 
do  that  with  jjleasure,  as  the  old  woman  said.     I  would 
like  to  be  made  inspector  of  fire-escapes." 
"  There's  nc  such  office,"  replied  the  IJoss. 
"  That's  just  !he  beauty  of  me  proposal.     There's  no- 
body to  be  thrown  out  or  offended.    I'm  not  shoving  any- 


"Sack  ijrcat  Rome  with   Romans"      301 

b<«ly  to  the  wall.     Let  the  office  hv  invintcd.  for  there  is 
a  law  recoininchn    fire-escapes " 

"Which  nu  (.lie  pays  any  attention  to,"  interrupted 
lirauy.  ' 

"All  the  more  reason  for  the  M)pointnieiit  of  an  in- 
spector. 

"  I'm  afraici  the  papers  woul.l  jmnp  „„  „s  for  i.rovidinir 
tnnuvessary  ,,laces  for  our  nun."  .iJmurred  the  Itoss     ** 

.  C  n  the  str:ct  contrary.  Mr.  I'.ra.llev.  Von  can  do 
tli's  th.n^f  with  a  nourish  that  w,ll  brin^'  even  the  o,pc> 
s  ion  o  your  s,de.  Let  me  write  out  yoi^  announce,  m. 
'n    Ji  e  th'lt;  T"  ''\  "'^'  ^'>'^"^  "^  ^'^'^^  ^''"•'<  l^^'  tl'o  talk 

t.ll  h.  n-  ^•"'^•"V/f  ^•'^^  P'>'"-  creatures  that  liw  in  these 
tall  InnldniKs      Then   we'll  run  in  some  ^n.ff  al.nit  the 
"on-part.sanship  of  such  an   important   phice    an  1   v  '  1 
appoint  the  republican  alderma,;  to  it.    'if  tha'  doesn' 
me    the  heart  of  the  Xew  York  Try-lnmc.  I  duul  wh:",} 

.  nl.I  r  '"V-"^''  ^■""  ^'''^"'"'  '"^'  ^"  ^''^'  "ffi^-^'  I'll  resi^Mi 
the  ah  ermanship.  an'  ye  can  elect  who  ye  please  It's 
all  :is  straight  as  a  strinj;.  ami  <Ion't  ve  forj^et  il  " 

How  about  the  salary  ?    Wc're-just  in  on  a  pi 
ot  strict  economy,  if  you  remember  " 

in'ihe'dtl^of^v"'"v"i^  ^lon't  know  that  anyone  else 
in  tit  cit>  of  New  \  ork  remembers  it  but  ver'seif    Mr 
Lradley.  which  shows  what  an  ili^ent  nK-moVy  y    haye 
Well,  ecotjomys  our  strong  point.     Make  the'place  a 
thotu^aiul  dollars  a  year.  say.  an'  let  it  go  at  that.'' 

year   Ma'nin.  •'"''  '"  ^^^  ^"'"^  ^'"  ""  ^•'""^^'"1  '''^H^^-^  ^ 
}car.  Aiaguire,    warned  drady. 

''Oh.  yes.  ye  can.  un.kr  an' economical  administration 
Retrinchment  and  reform.  an<l  i!,at  sort  of  thing        've 
lived  on  less.  Mr.  Crady."  ^ 

"  Weil,  if  you're  sMlis'fic-.l.  I  think  that's  a  mighty  eood 
way  out.    \\  hat  do  vm,  sav.  .Mr.  15radlcy>  "  ^ 

"We'll  make  it  two  thnu..and  at  least,  otherwise  the 

ft'was  n^  f  •  rn'''  """^'^  ''  '"  '^''  republicans  because 
It  was  not  wwrth  any  Tammanv  man'c  h-.,:,..^  u      yv- 

will  look  on  (hat  as  settled.  Mr.Maguire  "      "^  '  ' 

And  then  with  a  sigh  of  relief  the  IJo^s  of  Xew  York 


platform 


'  11;  f 


illfl 


m 


<    I 


i 


^11 


ill 


I 


ii^^^ 


I  I  ! 
E  I  r 


302 


The  Victors 


rose  to  his  feet.  He  had  found  the  new  man  not  only 
moderate  m  his  desires,  which  was  an  uncommon  i.rr- 
actenstic  of  appHcants,  but  possessing  a  fertile  .  sourcv- 
ful  mind  as  well,  showing  a  way  out  yet  offei  iin/  luj- 
body;  a  most  desirable  consummation  in  polit' 's  "xiic 
rising  of  Mr.  Bradley  broke  up  the  dillncr-partv,^;•|,.UL:^ 
some  of  the  guests  showed  an  incKnation  to  stay  and  do 
turtlier  justice  to  the  liquors  of  their  host.  At  last  Gradv 
and  Maguire  were  left  alone  together,  for  the  latter  was 
again  to  spend  the  night  in  the  flat. 

Cirady  poked  up  the  fire  and  sat  down  in  an  easy  chair 
opposite  hs  guest. 

"  Now  thank  goodness,"  he  said,  "  we  can  take  a  drink 
without  being  afraid  our  tongues  will  run  away  with  us 
Alaguire,  I  must  confess  I  don't  understand  von  To- 
night was  your  opportunity.  The  Boss  expected  to  be 
looted  and  was  prepared  to  agree  to  almost  aiiv  demand 
you  mignt  make  on  him.yet  you  ask  a  bcggarly'thousand 
a  year,  and  he  s  so  astonished  that  he  gives  vou  two 
thousand,  doubling  your  call,  a  thing  I  never  knew  him 
to  do  in  his  life  before." 

"  Grady,  you're  a  good  fellow,  and  unless  I'm  a  Dutch- 
man, an'  my  accent  would  hardly  lead  ve  to  believe  that 
same,  you  an'  me'll  be  in  many  a  stiff  fight  before  we 
die. 

"  Not  against  each  other,  I  hope.'' 
"  I  hope  not,  and  I  think  not.    I  have  seen  to-night  the 
men  that  rule  this  big  city,  an*  there's  only  one  of  the  lot 
I  admire  a  little  bit." 

"  Bradley  is  a  good  man  and  knows  enough  to  keep  his 
mouth  shut,  which  some  of  the  others  don't." 

"  Bra  ley  may  be  all  you  say.  I  think  him  a  dull  man 
myself;  but  the  one  I  admired  was  vou.  You  steered 
them  out  of  a  tight  place  a  dozen  times.  Your  manner 
said,  '  Don't  be  too  free  before  this  boy,  for  he's  not  one 
of  us  yet,  and  it  doesn't  do  to  be  loose  with  the  gab  " 

"  ( )h,  I  didn't  distrust  you  at  all,  Maguire.  It  was 
nothing  to  me  what  they  said.  In  fact,  if  there  was  any 
suspicion  floating  about  it  was  on  voiir  part  for  a 
remark  you  made  to  the  Boss  was  plainly  to  find  out  if  I 


"  Sack  great  Rome  witli  Romans  "      303 

had   told   him   anything  about   how   you   were   elected 
aldertrrin.  t".cLcu 

"It's  dead  risfht  you  are.  an!  I  found  out  that  you 
were  a  brick,  who  knew  when  to  keep  still.  Now  Gradv 
do  you  know  wliaL  I  think  of  that  lot,  Boss  and  all  ?  " 

\ou  mean  what  do  they  think  of  vou  ?     ihose  men 
can  make  or  break  you." 

"Indeed,  and  it  doesn't  trouble  me  a  particle  what  they 
thmk  of  me.  An  as  for  breaking  me.  I'm  just  the  boy 
would  like  to  see  them  try  their  hands  at  it.  I  think 
theyre  as  brainless  a  lot  as  you  could  pick  up  from 
Las  Ic  Garden,  where  most  of  them  landed,  to  Central 
I  ark.  fornenst  which  most  of  them  are  living  now 
f  hat  s  what  I  think."  * 

"  Oh,  I  dunno.  They  can  pick  up  the  monev.  anyhow  " 
^    1  ley  can.     Ihu  in  what  way,  (iradv?    Tell  me  that  " 

cit  '  hall  '-'"'''' '  ^''''"^^'  ""^  ^''''^'''Ss  t"  ^'^  liad  round  the 
"Yes.  Pickings  through  falsifying  accounts,  selling 
con  racts,  taking  bribes  and  that  sort  of  thing,  leaving 
evidence  enough  behind  to  convict  a  moonlighter  before 
a  Kerry  jury.  Some  fine  day  a  lad  with  a  head  for  fig- 
ures will  get  among  the  records,  and  these  boys  that 
Unnk  themselves  so  safe  will  be  in  Sing  Sing  before  they 

"Don't  be  too  sure  of  that.  Maguire.    I  have  seen  a  few 
trials  myself,  and  there  was  no  closing  of  a  jail  door 

"  My  dear  Grady,"  cried  Maguire,  rising  and  walkin- 
up  and  down  the  room,  "  these  people  don't  understand 
the  first  principles  of  the  American  constitution  They 
don  t  know  what  this  great  country  is  made  for  The 
foundation  stone  is  liberty.  The  ordinary  every-day  man 
in  the  street  wants  liberty  to  make  money;  as  much  of  the 
cash  as  he  can  and  as  fast  as  he  can.  If  yc  give  him  that, 
he  asks  no  odds  of  anybody.  He  doesn't  want  to  bother 
00  much  about  politics,  or  about  anything  else,  except 
he  raknig  of  the  boodle.  Therefore  we  officials  relieve 
mm  of  all  trouble,  providing  he  votes  straight,  and  keeps 
our  side  in,  so  that  we  can  do  hs  political  work  for  him. 


::r'1 


i'H  • 


:-!.'  WW.' 


} 


m ' 


304 


The  Victors 


m  order  that  he  may  devote  his  whole  attention  to  the 
pding  up  of  his  wvahh.  lie  ow^ht  to  be  a  grateful  beast 
to  us  for  our  care  of  him,  but  sometimes  he  is  not,  and 
this  makes  politics  an  uncertain  game.  \'ery  well,  now ; 
what  these  jays  of  yours  has  not  tumbled  to  is  that  the 
business  man  of  Xew  York  will  pav  good  money  to  be 
let  alone.  There  s  a  gold  mine  in  that  idea.  It'shoul.! 
really  be  patented,  but  I  would  have  a  difficultv  in  pre- 
venting infnngemints,  so  I  tell  it  to  vou  instead,' and  vou 
and  me  will  work  the  racket  and  sav  nothing  at  all  about 
It.     Are  ye  game  for  that,  Gradv?  " 

,    "  I'm  not  sure  that  I  understand  what  you  are  driv- 

mg  at.  -^ 

"It's  as  simple  as  falling  off  a  log,  as  the  old  woman 
said.  \  on  and  me  have  offices,  that  make  us  guardians 
of  some  law  or  other,  it  doesn't  much  matter  which,  as 
ong  as  It  s  a  law  that  commands  people  to  do  something 
hat  s  expensive  to  do,  and  that  they  won't  do  if  ye  l5 
em  alone.  .  '  ■' 

"Such  as  putting  up  fire-escapes  on  a  bip-  "-iildine-" 
suggested  Gradv,  with  a  smile. 

"  Exactly,   an'  a   mighty  good   instance.  well 

now,  the  inspector,  as  the  faithful  guardian  of  tuc  people's 
safety,  serves  notice  on  the  owner  of  some  big  building 
that  he  IS  not  complying  with  the  law.  and  that  he  must 
put  up  tire-esca|)es." 

"  All  right.  The  proprietor,  being  a  law-abiding  citi- 
zen, puts  them  up.  What  then?  Where  does  the  in- 
spector come  in  ?  "' 

"Oh,  the  inspector  stavs  in  all  the  time.  When  the 
building  IS  beautifully  decorated  with  fire-escapes  at  a 
large  expense.  I  doubt  if  they  will  meet  the  inspector's 
approval,  and  I  mucli  misjudge  him  if  he  can  find  it  in  his 
conscience  to  pass  the  work,  all  on  account  of  the  welfare 
of  the  people.  The  material  is  sure  to  be  defective  or 
certam  windows  are  unprotected,  and  this  must  be  pulled 
down,  and  the  other  must  be  put  up  differently.  I  tell 
ye.  me  boy,  that's  the  very  time  the  inspector  nobly  earns 
his  salary,  and  if  the  proprietor  kicks,  the  papers  will  say 
he  s  a  tlmty-hcarted  millionaire,  anxious  to  build  up  his 


"  Sack  great  Rome  with  Romans  -      305 

all  alone,  and  ,1a    lor  In    !    ""=  •"^""'mihk  inspector 
him.     Tien  neZn    „.h™T","'"  '^1'""'"'  "'=  '^«  >" 

take  «.i.i,  ir:tTi„ ,  ,;^j'',L  sru,  ri,:;"  ""'t  ;° 

mislaid  on  the  insMcfors  ta  ,      !?,  ?     f         "'  carelessly 
r.n.s  as  s.nooth  JtsZl  d       O  'eo.'r" ''ih-."'^""'''"" 

■■  Tri,e  st^'-lU^i^'l   rn^r'rrds  ieft'tV-'T'- ' 

■  Kee,;ot,;"S''dn's  e'o    JS.^  '^^  ^tj^    "°"""?- 
yours.'    I  konf  rv„f  r.f  ;f        .       ^  '        ^'  ^"'^  money  is 

f.me  TLtT.-:v,;ian'lrpo„Te:r;l;'^,:,r„Ti^^^^ 

^rs,  just  you  figure  up  what  this  same  iden  u- ll  1 

ma^in^^i:^j'^-ra^--.£r^;s: 

s„per,h,i,y  of  theC,  ™ieh  i    'the    rue  ,?'"  '"""■  ','"= 
mocracy  and  rep„l,lica„ism  e™l,ined  "      """""  "'  "'■- 

Ma.jf/.!^''°d"";Lt''.;:,,tr,^SLr'--^-"o-, 

•■  Ho°„es'irhl'i  l.e:n",:y'p"ol;cv  "''"'''•  ""'"'  ^"'o-'-- 

s^^:5r.^^^^ri-~aT'':;SB 


1::|: 


^JVT..  '^L.'^^iMlll 


Ill 


i« 


rii 


|i! 


306 


The  Victors 


nights  if  I  was  like  them  fellows  that  were  here  awhile 
ago,  knowing  there  was  evidence  against  me  if  anyone 
chanced  to  happen  on  it.  I  tell  you,  Grady,  I  am  an  un- 
selfish man,  as  you  can  see,  because  I  share  this  scheme 
with  you.  If  you  want  to  know  what  I'm  working 
for.  here  is  a  letter  that  wdl  show  you.     Read  it." 

Maguire  took  a  folded  document  from  his  inside  pocket 
and  Iianded  it  to  his  host.  The  latter  read  part,  then 
looked  up  at  the  young  man,  whose  face  was  aglow  and 
whose  eyes  were  sparkling,  a  smile  of  peculiar  sweetness 
hovering  about  his  lips. 

"  You've  made  a  mistake  in  the  letter,  Maguire,"  said 
Grady.     "  This  is  private^"' 

"  Of  cou-se  it  is,  but  read  it  to  the  end." 
"  You've  handed  me  a  letter  from  a  lady." 
"  Yes,  yes ;  that's   right.     From   Miss   Lottie   Bvfield. 
and  a  lady  she  is,  as  you  say,  true  fo.-  ye." 

The  brazen  cheek  of  the  hardened  politician  reddened 
as  he  read  this  beautiful  love  letter,  touching  in  its  sim- 
plicity, tender  as  an  opening  rosebud,  modest  and  un- 
sophisticated as  a  violet  in  spring.  It  breathed  through- 
out a  supreme  confidence  in  her  lover;  in  his  honesty 
and  truth,  in  his  ultimate  success.  When  he  had  read  to 
the  end,  Grady  folded  it  up  with  a  sigh  and  handed  it 
back  to  its  radiant  owner.  "  So  you  are  to  be  married  on 
Christmas  day,  Pat?  " 

"  Yes,  and  to  the  dearest,  loveliest  girl,  thousands  of 
miles  too  good  for  a  man  like  me." 

"  They  are  all  too  good  for  us,  Maguire." 
"  Well,  Lottie  is,  and  no  mistake.  I  don't  knowsomuch 
about  the  rest  of  them.  Yes,  I'm  to  be  married  Christmas 
day,  Grady,  and  I  want  to  do  the  thing  in  style,  for  she's 
more  than  worth  it.  I'm  going  to  take  her  down  to 
Florida ;  we'll  go  through  by  Cincinnati  and  Atlanta,  and 
then  after  a  month  there  we'll  come  straight  up  to  New 
York.  Now  the  trouble  with  me  is  that  I  haven't  got  any 
money  worth  speaking  of.  I  want  to  borrow  a  thousand 
dollars.     Win  ye  let  me  have  it?'' 

"  1  will.  But  the  journey  you  propose  to  take  is  an 
expensive  one,  if  you  do  it  as  it  ought  to  be  done.  Then 


■^tmc^Mi^'^ti'. 


"  Sack  great  Rome  with   Romans  "      307 

you'll  want  to  give  her  a  nice  present,  so  vouVl  hettpr 
make  it  two  thousand  while  yotire  ahou    it  •'      '  '''"'' 

Patnvf  nnll    ;     ""^  '"f''f '^'  ^^''''^''^  t'^^  «ther  took,  and 
1  at  nek  pulled  h.m  to  his  feet. 

"  Zu'r^'''''u  ■^'1'   ''^f'i'    «'^PP'"S:   liini    on    the    shoulder 
you  re  a  bnck,  an.I  I  swear  vou  won't  lose  bv  it  - 
The  pro.irress  of  Alderman  I'atrick  Ma-uire  to  tho  wp^. 

alftVthr/""'';-  ,''"""  ^^-^^  '  glamour  about  Wsprron! 
ahty  that  made  h.m  attractive  to  the  newsna',er  man  hi 

Ine   i   St  ce  to  fL  I 'T'  '''°"'-  '^'"^  ^'^^^  ^^'""'^  j'^-'ve 
uuiie   justice  to  the  hij^hcst  pns  l dn    in   tlio  lan.l      Ti,^ 

:nnS;-;s-V-ar^jr^;^iS 

Tl  us  ,t  was  that  w'-  n  Ma.jruire  i,^ot  off  the  train  ^t 
Ypsdant,  even  the  president  himself  could  InrdK  h.vl 
had  a  more  enthusiastic  reception    or  V  ,!.^  • 

gathering  to  welcome  him     ^        '     '  ^  "'°'^^  numerous 

The  snow  had  been  falling  at  intervals  for  some  weeks 
before  Christmas    and  the  sleighing  was  excXnt 

Maguire  had  te^graph.d  royallv  from  Detroit  to  the 
leading  livery  stable  man   in   Ynsihnii  n-l-Jn     7i 

X''  ,Tr  ^"'  '''?■   «"^-^^  -^'--^H    will  '  r^trto  mltc" 
should  be  m  readiness  for  him,  but  the  hospTtaSy  If 


pM 


3o8 


The  Victors 


! 


j 


T.! 

■  i 


i 


M  '■ 


Michifran  refused  to  allow  such  a  project  to  be  carried  to 
completion.  \'oung  Sam  Byficld  had  brought  to  the 
station  as  fine  and  fresh  a  pair  of  four-year-olds  as  the 
state  could  show,  and  he  was  accompanied  by  several 
of  the  neighbour  boys,  each  with  his  own  span. 
They  said  that  if  any  livery  team  in  Ypsilanti 
thought  it  could  pass  them,  it  was  at  liberty  to 
try,  offering  money  on  the  contt-st ;  but  the  'man 
who  let  out  horses  for  hire  declined  the  bet,  much  to  the 
hilarity  and  the  scoffing  of  the  young  bloods  from  the 
country.  And  so  they  captured  Maguire  as  soon  as  he 
stepped  down  from  the  train,  though  they  were  somewhat 
abashed,  it  must  be  confessed,  by  his  magnificence,  and 
with  their  captive  they  dashed  over  the  frozen  roads  of 
]\Iichigan.  Maguire,  however,  put  on  no  airs;  he  was  a 
countryman  himself,  he  proclaimed,  and  pointed  out  to 
them  that  the  men  who  really  succeeded  in  the  cities  were 
the  boys  who  came  from  the  farms,  as  he  had  done. 

And  so,  with  great  glee  and  song,  they  drove  toward 
the  settlement  of  which  the  Byfield  homestead  was  a 
part. 

As  they  dashed  down  into  the  hollow  before  reaching 
the  farm,  Maguire  noticed  a  long  white  ridge  of  snow 
running  straight  through  the  valley.  Excavation  of  some 
sort  had  been  stopped  by  the  winter,  and  now  the  snow 
covered  all  traces  of  the  work,  but  left  the  prolonged 
white  hillock,  like  a  great  drift. 

"  Hello,"  cried  Maguire.  "  What's  that  ?  Are  they 
building  a  railroad  through  these  parts?  My !  You'll  be 
in  town  then,  won't  you  ?  " 

"  That  ain't  no  railroad,'  replied  Sam,  "  it's  the  ditch 
you  tried  to  get  people  to  vote  against  when  you  were 
here  last.  Tliey've  been  a-working  at  it  most  of  the 
summer  and  all  the  fall.  A  Ypsilanti  man's  got  the  con- 
tract. I  guess  you  knew  more  about  'lectioneering  m 
New  York  than  you  did  that  time  in  Michigan." 

"  Yes,  I  learned  something  when  I  was  here  among  ye 
before.  I  couldn't  play  tricks  with  you  people  in  this 
neighbourhood,  but  New  York  was  dead  easy,  for  a 
young  man  from  the  country,  you  know." 


"  Sack  great  Rome  with  Romans  "      309 

It  was  admitted  on  all  hands  that  the  wedding  on 
Christmas  day  was  one  of  the  most  notable  functions 
that  had  ever  taken  place  in  that  part  of  Michigan.  Re- 
porters frc.n  the  city  were/  present,  and  wliat  greater  com- 
pliment could  he  paid  to  a  ceremony  than  that?  Their 
rhapsodies  on  the  beauty  of  the  bride  and  the  manly 
bearing  of  the  groom  may  still  be  read  in  the  old  file's 
of  the  newspapers  at  the  office  of  those  journals  or  in  the 
public  library,  and  so,  being  already  on  record,  it  is  not 
necessary  here  to  repeat  them. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maguire  l>egan  their  wedding  journey 
to  the  south  amid  the  God-speeds  of  all  who  knew  them'. 


■  ijiH  li 


ilf 


!;• 


in 

I 

'i 

I'' 

.■  i 

P 

ji 

11 

j   : 

f 

1 

i 


I  1! 


BOOK    IV 

THK  HILL  OF  HNDtAVOUR 

CHAPTER    I 

"that  were  a  trick  indeed  ■' 

The  summer  burned  itself  out.  and  the  cooler  davs  of 
autumn  followed,  but  still  Monro  and  McAllister  1  afl  no 
arrived  a    the  termmation  of  their  work.    The  prol'ress 
became  slower  when  they  reached  the  forest  j^rowt^,  o 

be  dLed"fo"r  \t  ""  '"""^^''  '  ^""^'•""^•-  ^  ^^^'^  --' 
The  young  men  kept  at  their  task  with  persistence 
an  wenng  no  questions,  and  consecjuentlv  telling-  no  lies 
After  local  curiosity  regarding  their   undertaking  had 
died  down    they  were  sub  ected  to  a  scrutiny  that  was 

baffled,  and  the  mquisit.veness  of  the  outlandci  expired 
as  had  that  of  the  local  want-to-know.  Thev  had  become 
suspicious  of  all  strangers,  and  must  have  seemed  to  all 
strangers  very  glum  sort  of  persons  indeed 

When  they  got  into  the  forest  the  weather  was  delight- 
ful and  now  that  they  were  constantly  by  the  side  of  the 
babbling  nver,  its  musical  chorus  lulled  them  asleep  at 
night,  and  sang  to  them  a  morning  hymn  on  their  awaken- 
ing. Ihe  work  was  manly  and  healthful,  and  their  way 
of  hvmg  was  perhaps  the  way  Providence  intended  man 
to  live.  They  were  attended  by  two  axemen,  and  a  negro 
did  their  cookmg  in  a  manner  which  seemed  to  them  to 
excel  Delmomco.  not  that  either  of  ihem  had  experience 
of  that  famous  eatmg  shop.  There  were  three  white  tents 
310 


II  'P 


Tliat  were  a  trick  indeed"  ;^ii 

which  movc(I  a  Httle  up  the  Kreen  jriack-  each  <lav.    (liven 

of  hearths.     Now  and  then  a  stray  belated  newspaper 

bated  mo  the  forest,  when  <,n.  or  other  of  the  ca.npers 

returned  from  l'.lla«:evillc  witli  supphcs.  l,ut  as  a  l!  S 

Only  once  ha<l  Mitchell  visited  them,  and  then  briefly 
lie   departed   as     suddenly   as     ho     came.      Monro   en^ 

"lX;te.l\'''"'  '''■'"  !''^-'-->"ta,tres  of  the  line  tl  ev 

ad  adopte.  .  as  c.^ni.are.l  with  other  routes  which  mieht 

have  been  chosen,  but  .MitcheH's  inscrutable,  clean-s  avcn 

face  srave  no  token  that  he  was  interested,  or  the  reverse 

he   K-^ro  cook,  who  seeme.l  to  k   ow  by  instinct  eVe^y: 

\ r-?^  ,  7""'  ^'°'"^  °"  '"  ^^'^  state,  said  that  iMr 
M.tche  1  had  entertained  a  partv  from  up  nor  I  at  lis 
roomy  lo^^  house  on  the  ranch  ;  but  if  he  iL"  do  so  1  e 

pitaH  v'^'rits'tT  'r'^r-''  ^"  '-'•^•^"I-'^^^"  •■""-'-- 
lie  would.  This  lack  of  mterest  in  them  thov  wore  far 
from  rosentmff.  Their  relations  with  him  were  on  a 
purely  busmess  basis,  and  they  neithor  looked  for  no? 
desired  socia  reco.^niition.  If  Mitcholl  possessed  the 
capacity  for  fnendship.  which  was  questi-!^  al  fe  for  he 
was  such  an  alert  commercial  man,  iuch  a  modern  hu 
man.  money-makin.^^  machine,  the  oun"  me  felt  tl  ov 
never  even  touched  the  outer  frin^^e  of  hi  re  J^^^^^^  '  To 
h.m  they  were  merely  two  instruments  to  be  us?cl  for  1  is 
own  purposes.     Monro  said,  when  they  talke     this  over 

;hcn"'outS'oMh  '''^■'""-  '"'''''  ^'  -on  thlnk^'of 
tncm,  outside  of  their  capacitv  to  serve  him  as  Monro 
hjmself  would  think  of  making  a  friend  of  ihe  thiodo- 

One  enchanting  autumn  day  a  fisherman  anvimis  f,.r 
niformation  regarding  the  piscatorial  poTbihieo    the 

Z'Ltrr^"  '■''  ""■"^'>°'-^-  ^^'  -^^  -^^11  cq  pped  with 
the  latest  and  most  expensive  paraphernalia  if  the  s^rt 

'"  e  Tom':  4r  It  ^'^^-^^'■^  *«  P^'-^^-^^'^"-  The  su  ve^oA' 
art  tho?  Jl  ^  '''"^'''  '^''''  ignorance  of  the  gentle 
art .  they  had  never  even  suspected  the  existence  ofTrout 


Bii 


■p  \  r  "  ■,jfe'. 


.Jim' 


i.'i  i 


u 


The  Victors 

in  the  stream,  althouirh  there  mitrht  K«  ^-        xr  •  . 

they  know  anything  of  the  fi^o^  N^e.thcr  did 

injs'  them     The  fisher  Jn.  ■       5^'^""  ^"^  ^atch- 

difecuit,;he^^-,:^S^.:^-l-r-:^-,,,^^^ 

his  canvc^s  near    h  er   'm        t,\^l'   P^''-'""^^'""  to    pitch 

all  comers,  and  ilu.s.    o;  a  few  davs    SfiT''   ^'''  '1 
his  atten.lants   were  ti.eir  neidS';s      Th  ''""'r  ""^^ 

camp        He  never  bnn.Ts  in  any  hsh.  if  you  noti"e^ 
shoni  n>      ^"f^'^^'^all    right,"   answered    Ben      •' I 

ward    nJie   agan'    H        -r'asT^'"'""^  '^"  '^''  "P" 
about  our  busmess."  ''   ^''^^    "'  ""^    ^^^^tions 

"  UM     .        ^^"^  I'^'^''^"^  cross-examination  " 
extra  c'SuTV  ""'•  /  'T'^  ^^^  ^'^^  ^^  "-'•  l>e  so 

wnar  we  are  at  than  when  we  started,  and  we  iiad  mitrhtv 
little  m formation  to  bej^in  on  "  mignty 

.^  ;;  Well,  such  as  we  have,  he's  not  going  to  get  any  of 

mt7r'J"Tou'if  !'""'"'''  '•'  '"'"T^  '^''  ^■■"^P'-^'i^v  of  your 
?ef  of  yoT'rllfe  ••   ""'"""^  °'  ''''''  ^^^^"^^^  ^-  t'-' 

"He's  a  railroad  man." 

"  What  makes  vou  think  so?  " 

t>a"t1,inr''H^  '"'I''"  ^^T'-^''^^'""^-     He  never  says  half- 


That  were  a  trick  indeed  " 


tiK-  noon  trlT/;?.„''-?,;^, ;::;"';  -y;;--  at  PmapviHo  by 

covered    |,„cr„v    th,.    oh    .     nff         I  "i    ''"''''•'    ^''^    ^'^^'^''^t 

•'  What  ^lo'Vou  n  ak4  o  '  ha  >  ••\;^■''■"■?^^•^^  '"'•"'^■'•• 

the  comnn.nicafon  alo^.d  "'^"""''^^  ^'"''  '■^'^'''"^ 

"  Mitchell's  ill,  I  should  sav."  replied  IVn      "  Tr 

erally  rroes  to  his  nn-i,  /      'M'liui  isen.        liecfen- 

suppL??bul     -.n  le,;:"  ^'""'^'^^r^'  I  t.nderstaruL     I 
is  pretty  bacr^"  '  ''''^'-'"  '^  ^^^*-'  f^™-  '^"t  the  road 

you  j,^oin,,Mo  do?'  •       ■    "   ^"^''''^>'      What  arc 

"  Xothin^^  can  be  done  to-nifrht      tmi 

rule  to  Pillajjeville  to-morrow  mornine  ^^  "^'  "'^^'  '"'^ 
lele^rraph   for  a  bui^gy  "  "^orn'Off-     I  may  h:    e  to 

<Iozcn  mil?   f  om'  V     h.     '/""^^     "^^  ^^"'-^^  '^^'^  '^*lf  ^      ' 
toward  him    a^S  toltXt  ZT  ^..^'^^  "  '■'''^"•-  ^'-^"^P'"-^ 

pulled  up  ^;;;pjL^^ 

Why    Mr.  Monro,  what  are  you  doing  here'" 

ask  '^:'Z7^.^l?Z''k-  '  -'i- .oin,  to 
from  Montreal ''  ^    '•     ^''"  '''  ^  ^°"ff  f^istance 

"It  is  no  further  for  mc  than  for  you    is  it?" 
That  .s  true.     When  did  you  retur'n  to  New'  York  ?  " 


ill! 


3^4 


The  Victors 


m 


W'Jicn  (lid  vou 


it  I 


t^ 


f  'i 


"Oil.  I've  hcH>n  liotne  for  somt'  time, 
bcconu'  a  nsiiknt  of  Xdrtli  Carolina?" 

"  Almost   from  tlu-  iiioimtU    I  hade  vou  j^jood-hye      I 
spent  but  one  day  in   New   York,  and'  then  came'  riiiht 

oil     IkTi'  ?   "  " 


on  here  ? 

"Is  your  comixanion  wit 


vou 


"  Yes.   we've   Ixen   workinjjr  toj^ether  all   summer." 
"(.ettin^'  on  well,   I  hope.     You  were  very  ambitious, 
you  know.  ' 

"  \<-'^'  I  think  we  are  f^ettinj^  alonjj^  pretty  well." 

'•  llrnk!     Don't  you  I'ikki'  whether  you  are  ttr  not?" 

Well,  to  tell  the  truth.  1  don't."  said  Jim  with  a  lau^'h. 

"  I've   seen   my   employer   only   once   since   we   arrived, 

and  he  exi)ressed  neither  satisfaction  nor  censure.     He's 

a  taciturn  man.     lie  is  coming  here  to-morrow,  so  ikt- 

hai  s  I  shall  learn  more  definitely  how  I  stand  with  him." 

"  Then  his  coniini,'  has  broujj^ht  you  out  of  the  woods, 

I  .suppose.     .\m  1  correct  in  j^niessinj;  vou  are  ridini;  to 

IMlaK^eville?'  '  ** 

"  \  es.  Won't  you  tuni  round,  or  are  vou  k<^'uv^  .some- 
where in  particular?  " 

"  Xo.  I  am  just  out  for  a  morninir  ride.  There's  noth- 
ing: else  to  do  in  this  outlandish  place.  My  father  is  here 
on  business,  and  I  came  with  him.  He  wished  me  to  jjo 
on  to  Asheville  until  he  was  readv  to  return,  but  I 
thouj^ht  I  would  rather  stay  here." 

"Then  you  have  my  sympathy.  I  stopped  a  week  in 
the  hotel,  and  thoui^dii  it  about  as  bad  as  laziness  could 
make  it." 

"Oh,  I'm  not  at  the  hotel,  but  in  my  father's  private 
car,  with  all  the  lu.xuries  of  the  season,  includinj,^  my 
French  maid  and  an  excellent  cook.  You  must  come 
and  have  dinner  with  us,  and  then  you  will  appreciate 
the  resources  of  a  private  car.  We  arc  s=(le-tracked  down 
below  the  freight  shed ;  No.  20  Railroad  Avenue,  I  call 
it ;  but  look  out  for  the  trains  when  you  cross  our  front 
yard." 

Grace  Van  Ness  had  turned  toward  Pillageville  and 
the  two  now  rode  along  side  by  side,  w^alking  their  horses. 
They   formed   a  striking  contrast— civilisation  and  the 


"That  uvre  a  trak  indeed  '  ^,i^ 

frontier.  T!,.  K^irl'.  NV«-  N  .,rk-,„.HU.  ..x.,u.sitdv  tittm.^- 
ndm^  coslunu.  M.n.ul  tl.e  last  Ir.u.nph  of  the  tai  u  m-^ 
art  tlu-  s,nuK  man  m  nu.K'h-and-tuniLIc  .nv  tlaml 
.slurt.„,u.„  at  the  .„.  i      faa-   an.l  tlin.at   l.rn    ,;,/l      '  , 

attraclid   liio   CDiiinaiimn     f.,i    ^U,-     -Ini,      i     i     i  •• 

now  a.„,  .,.„  .i,„'  a  l.n.f  >'  :Kta,t"  n'   .l  ■■.;','„  ■';; 

;;~>,iXii:vr;™  >'''''--^' -.,..,',.„..',;," 

*'  Have  ynii  iK-cn  Iutc  lonsr?  "  lu>  askcl 

vve  ma>  l,a\c  to  stay.  ^  „„  scv,  ..,!,■  .,t  tluuc-  tiroM.nV. 
railway  prol.lcms  i.s  to  the  fr,.nt  at  tins  nvnuan  ■  th-v  a  - 
ways  crop  up  ,n  the  most  uninterc-.tin-  places  This 
prob  e,n   ,,,  ,,,„^  „,rea.c-ni„,.  i„  ..„.  shape  or       .ther 

.  HM    'n     ^''''  '■'''  ^-'"  '*"■  "'^'  15-ntoun  Xotch  " 
1  !'e  l.oonioun  .Votch  ?  " 

f.nr^?'  ^'''''^"'  ^  '"'  ^•''■""S^h  ^'^^^  mountains  some  dis- 
tance from  where  we  are." 

"  Oil,  I  know  it  well." 

everl  *!?''''  ';"'  ^  '',"'•'"  '^  '^■'^^  ''^'^'"  ^'"""l^'^  ^-"OUffh  to 
every  onr  uUereste.l  n,  southern  railwavs.  j-ach  line 
wants  to  cet  the  ri.crht  of  way  U.r  ,u,.h  the'Xotch.  !  ut  c 
other  roads  obstruct  the  ^^ran.in^.  of  that  ri,d>  t  am 
-no  corporal.ou  and.  as  usual,  ,l,e  roads  eanV^a^rcv  .u\ 
jo.nt  hne  to  be  held  in  comnion.  Thafs  what  fa'ih^r  no' 
pes  d  lonff  a,^o,  and  now  the  thin,^  he  predicte.l  lu^J  1  a  - 
penci      A   man   has   -^t   a   bill   throu^d,    the   le^^^i  Jatu  x- 

V  ll^se  ';  ;':  "•''  '^  '''"  ^'^^^'■^^^  ^'^'"^  ^'"-  tlus^enm  " 
>  ou  see  tliere  is  a  law- 

\  am  you  before  you  say  any  more.     I  suspect  T  am  in 

\i:T7  "VI"  '"""V^:    '^'"^  nuestionr^s  Mr    Van 
Aess  the  lone  fisherman.? 

."  Why    yes.     It  isn't  possible  you  are  one  of  th.  en- 
gineers.''  ■  /  -1    — -  ca. 

"  That's  exact Iv  uhat  I  am." 
yourVard-^  '^""''  '""^  ^'"''  ^'"'  ^°"^  ""^  ^'^'  ^"^  °" 


i  i    j'si 


3i6 


The  Victors 


woUdn'.  if  h"e  4ed  ttrVr™  ■"'•^'•■'"^  '™"'  ■"^-  ^'^ 

less  pLfn""""'"'"'^'""  °'  'he-Birmoated  over  the  echo- 

"  iJon't  be  so  sure,"  she  said  at  last      ••  H^  ,„i , 
you  knew  nothing  of  engineering  "  ""^  '°'''  """ 

.nany  a  Ine,  burhafn'^cau^h"  I  S'.?"'""^'-  "-oun 

nect^'ji^dat'ed 'the  '"?'",^''  "'"  ""  "--'^ 
with  equS  gTs  o  and'  ^^  'T'"'">'  °'  ""^  ^""""o" 
merry  over  a  matter  whiA  ™  ^"""^  P'-'°Pl'=  "■•"de 

folk  much  anxTety  ^  *"'  """'"8  "'^'^  ^"^  «'»er 

''do''v™'m  •'"u  r*"  '"''"■"  ^^^i  Monro  at  last 

where  else  ?''  '^^'■*'  ^"°*^^^''  '"'"io"  so.nc- 

Jim,  in  his  astonishment   whiVl^H  a  i^ 
whistle.  '  wmstled  a  long,   surprised 

"  Why,  didn't  you  know  that?"  she  asked       "  uru  . 
do  you  know  about  the  business,  then?'  ^^""^ 

the  kno^l  dLe'in  m^n ''"''•      ^'  ^^^  ^^"  ^^^  '-^  -" 
more  good  th^anTf  he^lonTn'^'^"  ''  •^^■°"'^""*  ^«  »^'"^  ^"V 

;;fhenwt^"a;l'y:XTrrd^^^ 

^    Kecause  I  promised  not  to  tell  " 


a 
id 


It 


"  "■"''•It  were  a  trick  indeed  " 


"  What  do  you  know  of  Mitchell    Mice  a^       x^ 
am  certam  I  never  mentioned  I  i"  1  j^  'f-^  '^"  ^^-«?    I 

"  Y^s-nri^Yid'^  r^-  r'"^  ^°  -orrow?  ^ 
"Isn't  that  the    ame.h'lrf'"'^''^^^^  ^--^  coming." 
employer?  "  ^  """§^-     I«"  t  Mr.  Mitchell  your 

;;ijerhapsheis,  oroneofthem-" 
»  XT  '  >'°"  have  two." 
Now    look  here,  Miss  Van  Ness    Vn.       .       ■ 
say  another  word  ahn.,f  ^      /  '  ^  "^  "o^  gTomp-  to 

.a,.^.  Mon^eaif  ,^1;:,";  r/'u ^r,."  •.™'™'''  '-•■' 

very,     leather  savs  he's  P-bH   i,  '  •     • 
manager  of  your  road'-  ^       ^'*'  ''"  ^  Somg  to  be 

"Why.?" 

"  Because,'"  laughed  the  rn'rl   "  i,. 
rainy  n.ghts.    He  says  everT  res  ef  ?"^^  T''  '^''^  «" 
wdl  carry  your  roadbed  info  th  """  ^^^  mountains 

.  "  Well,"  admittal  J^  ref^K  ""1  ^.^""^^'v" 

intendLlttZt^tct^t  r  '^^iT^^  ^«  "- 

^^^rss.^,^!:r-t^'-rf"-^ 

specified  salary"  ^ '"  ''^'"^T  a  piece  of  work  for  a 

^^  [t  you  did,  would  you'" 
I  should  leave  their  emplov    h.,f  T 
promise  to  them."  ^^'     "^  ^  ^""^  keep  mv 

"  Now  I  wonder  if  that's  nVhf  ..  ,^rong  ^    _       . 


ways  two  wav^^  of  Ip,,L-,-nrr  .f      .t  •  ^  •     ^  "^re 

"  Oh  o   1  "^y^mg  at  a  thing,  isn't  ther«>?  " 


.voii 


name  of  Mitchell  to 


U'.i 


3i8 


The  Victors 


"  I  suppose  there's  no  harm  in  telling  that.    Mitchell  is 

he  man  who  got  the  bill  through  the  state  leg  fatu  e 

I  surm:sed  that  he  was  your  employer,  althoufh  fXr' 

thought  he  was  merely  a  dummy  with  bigger  men  or  some 

railway  company  at  the  back  of  him.     Everv  one   except 

whl^eTus^to^atfeJa^nT'  "'"'  '""'^"^  '''  ^  "^^" 
;  I  ve  answered  more  of  yours  than  I  intended  " 

warr    rJi  tJr"'     ^  J^V^^""'"''""  ''  ^^•"^ble,  and  in  re- 
ZT!u  r         ^""^  ^"  ^'^"^  ^''^  bill.    There  is  a  statute  in 
North  Carolma  which  enables  a  man  to  get  a  shorth  U 
passed  through  the  legislature  giving  Wm^^ower  to  con 
struct  a  tramway  between  one  factory  and  anothe     if  he 
owns  two  that  need  connecting.     Mr.  Mitchell  owns  a 
aw-m.ll  and  a  plan  ng-mill.    He  got  a  bill  passed  through 
fand!?  1      "''  f  ^horising  him  to  build  a  tramway  of 
standard  gauge  between  the  two  mills.    That's  all  " 
,,  i  dont  see  anything  important  in  that." 
Neither  did  the  state  legislature,  nor  the  governor  nor 
the  railway  attorneys,  who  are  supposed  to  watch  on  be- 
half of  their  roads  at  the  capital ;  but  they  saw  it  when 
they  learned  that  the  planing  mill  was  in  PUlagev  lie  anS 
the  saw-mill  in  Boontown.  one  on  each  side  of  the  No^ch 
more  than  fifty  miles  apart."  ' 

"By  George!  That  was  a  cute  move.  Mitchell's  lust 
the  man  to  think  of  such  a  trick."  ^ 

"  Ah.  then  you  know  him  after  all  >  " 

;  I  never  den:ed  knowledge  of  him.  Can't  thev  re- 
scincHhe  act,  or  break  it  in  some  way-ifo  so  evidently 

nl.^T  '^".J-^'^u  ¥'•  ^^•'"^^'"  '^  q^'te  within  his 
right.  Everything  has  been  done  legally,  and  no  one  can 
say  even  now  that  he  intends  anything  more  than  a  road 
to  carry  lumber  from  one  mill  to  the  other.  But  once 
the  rails  are  down  who  can  prophesy  what  will  run  over 

,,  .    u"  """^y  "^^P^"^  ^^^y  ^^'"  trv  to  have  the  act 
annulled,  but  it  is  a  very  easy  thing  to  prevent  an  act 


"  '^'i=>'  were  a  trick  indeed  "  319 

hTtt^oTZ--    """  ^^"^'""S  -  ac,  already  signed 

.en^d^.  .„iM  .e  4'Cre---S^^^-'>-  ^■"- 
"  Exactly.'' 

pose  it  to  be."         ^  ^*"^  "  *'^^  ^^^'"idle  I  now  sup- 

morrow."   '  '''^"   ^'"^^^   "^^'•e  about  that  to- 

"  I  wouldn't  do  anvthino-  rasli  it  t 
you  have  your  partner  .o^on'ide'/"'  ""^  ^■''"  ^  ''"'''-• 

My  partner  will  think  iust  ;,«  T  ,i^ 
a  better  man  than  I  am"  ^o-more  so.    He  is 

"  You  can't  expect  me  to  believe  that    Mr   at 

with  mrfa'her  taT^Tf  "'^'"^  """'  '  ^ave  a  talk 
na.uran'y  sees  l,^  thM:  .rt^lan^T  df '  ,  "' 
b^ness,  ,.  is  be„er  ro  .ake  a  ^LJ^^i  fhrfw" 

■'Tm  not  so  sure  of  that." 

then  vormus^nof  Jor^et"/,'  T  1"  '^'^  P'-^J^diced,  and 
Mitchell  is  mere  surm  si  it  i  '-'^^  ^  ^'^'"'^  °^  ^^I'"- 
as  honest  as  a  gold^  L  Pro"^"  '  ^'''''^^'  '^^'  ^'^  '^ 
your  resi,nation"ulftiffi:^/;rg^^^^^  not  to  send  in 
.,  All  right.  I  promise." 
Thank  you.     Knw  fh^f  ,.,^ 

must   turn  Ll.       T     1,1  rr  .iT     T  r""^''  '^^  ^'"^-^^   I 

ratiicr  liiouirht   T   cho„i,i   jy^^^f^ 


out  ch:s  is  almost  too  early  for  h 


..e  may  not  con.  in".  ;„  trdar-Good-by™' 


my 


i 


im,  and  perhaps 


320 


The  Victors 


She  turned  her  horse,  and.  with  a  wave  of  her  hand 
galloped  to  the  north  heforc  he  could  make  any  reply- 
He  sat  there  gaznig  after  her.  Once  she  looked  back 
and  waved  her  hand  again,  he  lifting  his  slouch  hat  in 
salute.  Then,  with  a  sigh  that  was  perhaps  for  a  lost 
occupation,  he  rode  slowly  into  the  village  and  gave  ud 
his  horse  to  the  negro  at  the  tavern.  The  proprietoV 
was   seated   on   a   tilted-back   wooden   chair  under   the 

hfm  "=nn.  '  1  ^^t   T   ^''^   '""8^''   ^"'^   ^^   ^^""""'O  had   left 

nim  some  weeks  before. 


m-\. 


)il 


CHAPTER    ir 

"  IIY  A  SKALKD  fOMl'ACT,   W  KLL  RATIFIKD  " 

Monro  ^ot  the  covered  buggy  and  a  pair  of  horses  to 
draw  It.  with  a  negro  to  drive  the  team.  Then  he  waited 
on  the  platform  until  the  noon  train  arrived  He  saw 
the  palatial  private  car  side-tracked  at  the  extremity  of 
the  yard,  hut  there  was  no  sign  of  its  inmates.  The  more 
he  thought  over  the  conversation  which  had  taken  place 
between  Miss  Van  Xess  and  himself,  the  higher  rose  his 
resentment  against  Glassthrop  and  Mitchell.  He  was 
convnced  that  they  were  blackmailers  on  a  huge  scale, 
and  he  resented  his  having  been  made  their  instrument' 
yet  his  conscience  told  him  that  this  aggressive  honesty 
was  rather  belated,  for  both  he  and  Ben  had  suspected 
somelhmg  of  the  sort  before  they  left  New  York 

When  the  train  came  in  he  thought  for  a  moment  that 
Mitchell  was  not  aboard,  and  was  shocked  to  see  the  man 
he  sought  being  helped  slowlv  down  the  steps  by  two 
others,  his  head  sunk  into  his  shoulders,  his  face  of 
ghastly  pallor,  a  bent  old  man,  with  the  imprint  of  death 
on  every  shrunken  line  of  his  frame.  All  Monro's  anger 
vanished  as  he  sprang  forward  to  meet  him.  He  thoueht 
there  had  been  an  accident  on  the  road 

"  Y.^'„^'°'''  ^^^'■-  ^I'tchell,"  he  cried,  "  what  has  hap- 
pened ?  * 

"  Nothing,  nothing,"  snarled  Mitchell,  in  hollow  tones, 
irritation  thrilling  them.    "  Have  you  got  that  buggy?" 
"Yes,  sir;  it's  outside  here  with  two  horses." 
"Well,    don't    stand    chattering   there,    but    help   me 
to  It. 

Monro  lent  his  arm.  and  Mitchell  leaned  heavily  upon 
it  shuffling  his  feet  along  the  platform  like  a  decrepit 
/eteran. 


21 


321 


Ill 


322 


Tlie  Victors 


"VVhafs  this  nipper  doing-  here?"  asked  Mitchell 
fretfully,  when  they  reached  the  huggy.  ••  Get  out  of 
tnis ;  1  want  a  white  man  to  drive  me  ' 

amTibly"'^"""  '''''^^"'  '^"''"   ^'""^  '^''  ^"Sgy  grinning 

"  Give  him  a  dollar."  con.mued  Mitchell.  '^  You  can 
drive,  I  suppose?" 

"Yes,  after  a  fashion,'"  rci)lied  Monro. 

"Roads  pretty  rouph,  are  they?" 

''  They're  not  as  good  as  tlicv  might  be." 

"  Well,  drive  slowly;  there's' plentv  of  t:me.     Tell  the 


Now  let's  get  out 


nigger  to  take  your  horse  to  the  ranch 
of  this." 

Monro  drove  on  in  silence,  Mitchell  leaning  back  in 
the  buggy  with  closed  eyes,  palpahlv  exhausted  bv  his 
exertion  V\  hen  they  were  about  a  m'ile  from  the  village 
he  said  faintly  :  ^ 

"It  is  nothing  serious,  you  know.     A  dav  or  two  on 
he  farm  will  put  me  all  right  again.  I  feel  better  already 
in  tnis  air.  •' 

Monro  thought  he  did  not  look  it. 

*|  Have  you  been  ill?  '  he  asked. 

"No  It's  just  a  sudden  breakdown.  I  have  them 
now  and  then,  and  whenever  I  feel  one  coming  on  I  al- 
ways make  straight  for  the  ranch.  There  I  quit  thinking 
and  get  the  rumble  of  the  train  out  of  mv  head.  That's 
the  first  symptom,  car  wheels  rumbling,  rumbling,  rum- 
bling over  my  brain,  night  and  dav,  all  the  time." 

"  Have  you  seen  a  physician  about  it  ?  " 

"  No  need  for  that.  I  know  all  a  physician  can  tell  me. 
1  here  s  nothing  wrong  with  me,  mcrelv  too  much  travel 
on  the  cars,  and  rushing  about  here  and  there.  I  seem  to 
be  spending  my  life  in  cabs  on  the  jump  to  catch  trains 
hiring  a  special  when  the  regular  train  pulls  out  before  I 
get  there. 

"  Do  you  think  it  worth  while  ?  " 
"  Think  zvliat  worth  while?  " 

"  That  sort  of  life.    If  I  had  five  millions,  I'd  take  it 
easy.  ** 


"  By  a  sealed  compact,  well  ratified"    323 

"  You  don't  know  what  ycrn'ro  talkincf  about,"  replied 
Mitchell,  the  irritation  return  nj^  to  iiis  voice.  "  What's 
five  millions  in  New  York?  I'm  a  poor  man  in  New 
York.  I'm  ah  right.  This  is  merely  a  nervous  collapse. 
I'll  be  break'njT  colts  in  a  week  on  the  farm." 

Aj^an  there  was  sikiice  between  them  which  lasted  for 
a  lonjjf  time.  Xow  and  then  Mitchell  drew  a  deep  breath 
as  if  the  pure  country  air  was  revivifyinjj  him,  as  indeed 
it  seemed  to  be  doinjj.  He  sat  up  straijjhter  in  the  buggy, 
and  when  the  road  inclined  to  the  west  until  a  row  of 
stakes  were  visible  across  country  Mitchell,  noticing 
them,  asked  abruptly: 

"That  your  surveyit;g?" 

"  Yes,  sir,  '  answered  Monro.  "  The  line  crosses  the 
road  here,  and  recrosses  it  a  few  miles  further  on.  I  ran 
it  straight  for  the  woods  and  then  followed  the  stream.  I 
expect  to  reach  the  Notch  next  week." 

For  the  first  time  Mitchell  laughed,  a  quiet,  1  jw,  sneer- 
ing chuckle.  In  spite  of  his  employer's  weak  state, 
Monro  felt  all  sympathy  for  the  man  ebbing  away,  and 
his  old  dislike  for  him  and  non-confidence  in  him  re- 
turning. 

"  You'll  never  reach  the  Notch,  my  boy."  said  Mitch- 
ell. "  You  were  never  intended  to  go  even  as  far  as  you 
have  gone.  Surely  you  two  were  not  simpletons  enough 
to  imagine  that  we  were  going  to  build  tiie  road?  We 
would  have  hired  competent  engineers  if  that  had  been 
the  case.'' 

1^  I  thought  perhaps  you  wanted  a  rough  survey." 

"  Well,  I  guess  we  got  it.  Rough  enough.  I  imagine, 
but  it's  answered  its  purpose,  and  now  you  fellows  will 
have  to  look  for  another  job,  and  that  right  away,  too." 

"I  understood  that  if  we  gave  satisfaction  we  might 
expect  further  employment  from  your  firm,"  said  Jim, 
quite  forgetting,  now  that  he  saw  dismissal  ahead,  his 
heroic  detcrminaticn  of  yesterday  to  resign. 

"  Oh,  you  can't  come  that  game  un  me.  I  warned  vou 
plainly  enough." 

"  I'm  not  trying  any  game,  nor  am  I  complaining.     I 


324 


The  Victors 


m-^iii^  • 


"  You  have  quit.    The  bank  honours  no  more  checks 
1 11  pay  you  up  till  to-day.    The  deal  is  finished  •' 

You  spoke  of  our  being  simpletons,  but  I  mav  tell 
vou  that  never  from  the  first  did  we  believe  m    our  rold 

••  Yc.  Z/'^'y.  ""^  ^'^'  ^"'^^-  ^'  ^^  ^^'^  told  to    o" 

we  hckl  strfctitr'  ^^'^     ^""'*  ""'"'^^^  ^^e  fact  that 
we  hckl  strictly  to  our  arrangement  with  vou." 

I  wish  I  could  get  you  to  understand  that  I  am  mak- 
ing no  protest      You  have  done  exactly  what  voT,  Taid 

?or  oTe  'we've  T  ''''  '""S^°  ^"'^  ^-"  if  we'Te^rd/e  d 
mone^"  generously  paid  and  have  saved  our 

"  I'm  glad  to  heac  it." 

if  it  irnJt'aTecTeT''  """'^  ^'""^  ^'^  '^^'  ^'^^  --  -• 
"Oh,  no  secret  at  all.  now  that  the  thing  is  comolete 
and  the  money  paid  over.  A  simple  matter.^  We  iSE 
fifty  thousand  acres  of  timber  land  for  a  dollar  a^acre 
wh.ch  seems  cheap,  but  the  pine  is  practicall?  valueless 
because  ,t  ,s  so  far  from  a  railroad.     Very  we  1  Csuo 

waV  h^r"  W^  ^i"^.^"'  ^°"  ^"°  ^^^'"  ^° -"ev  the     il" 
way  hne.     We  d.dn't  say  to  anyone  that  a  railroad  was 
gomg  to  be  built,  and  we  donVsay  so  now.    Ostensrbly 
we  had  nothmg  to  do  with  the  new  line,  and  osten    by 
we  dKl  not  care  particularly  to  sell  timber  lands      The 
purchasers  approached  us.   offering  us  five  dollars  an 
acre.     We  said  we  d.dn't  believe  the  road  was  goin.>- 
hrough.  but  that  >f    it    did    the    land    was    worth ^,^« 
hundred    dollars    an    acre,    if    it    was    worth    a    cent 
all  of  which  Ks  quite  true.    The  syndicate  finally  offered 
ten  dollars  an  acre  for  half  the  property,  and  we  sold 
nettmg  two  hundred  thousand  ddlars  on  the  dJal    and 
retaining  twenty-five  thousand  acres  of  land  that  ha^  cost 
us  nothmg.     They  asked  us  few  questions,  and  our  an- 
swers were  mvariably  truthful." 

"  But  the  scheme  was  a  swindle,  nevertheless  " 

"  Oh,  bless  you.  no.     The  land  is  well  worth  tlie  money 


"  By  a  sealed  compact,  well  ratified  "    325 

they  paid,  a.ul  the  purchasers  imagine  thev  have  taken 
advant,^,  of  .  couple  of  New  York  .ncn  who  dont  know 
what  IS  gong:  on  m  North  Carolina.  I'erhaps  they  have ; 
perhaps  they  have,  but  let  em  build  the  road,  if  thev 
want  :  .     I  H  g.ve  them  the  franchise  cheap;  in  fact,  l\\ 

"u  'ir^""  "  '"  ^''^'  '^  tl'^y''!  asked  for  it." 
^  Wdl  you  give  it  to  me  if  I  ask  for  it  ?  • 

finici,  i"  "'^1  ^  "^'"''"  ^^'''^  anything  away  when  a  deal's 
J  Zt^'  ^•'*:J.""^"  J"  '"ake  a  bargain  with  me  is  when 
l^want   somethmg  from   you.     I'm  through   with  you 

As  they  neared  the  ranch  Mitchell's  garrulousncss  sub- 
sided and  he  became  somewhat  like  his  old  self  again 
He  got  out  of  the  buggy  alone,  refusing  assistance. 

C,o  back  to  your  camp.'  he  commanded.  "  and  send 
mstruments,  tents,  and  everything  here  to-morrow  111 
pay  off  the  hands  and  they  can  walk  to  Pillageville  You 
two  may  drive  back  in  this  buggy,  and  -irn  it  over  to  its 
owner,  when  you  ve  signed  receipts." 

Darkness  had  fallen  before  Monro  reached  the  camp 
and  found  McAllister  waiting  for  him  beside  the  log  fire 
Jim  s  first  question  was : 

"  Where  is  Mr.  Van  Ness  ?  " 

"Who?" 

T  ,'7p?,  '°"^  fisherman;  has  he  been  to  Pillageville  since 

"No.  He  stayed  rig'.it  by  me.  seeminglv  wishing  to 
cultivate  my  acQuaintance  in  vour  absence.  I'm  I've 
come  to  your  opinion  ;  he  is  a  railroad  man.  and'he's  here 
to  find  out  what  we're  doing." 

"  Yes ;  he's  Mr.  Van  Ness,  the  railwav  manager.  He's 
still  here  then?" 

"  Just  gone  to  his  tent.  How  did  von  find  out  about 
him  ? 

"  That's  a  long  story.  Where's  the  cook  .  T  must  have 
something  to  eat.  for  Mitchell  f  r-'o;  \o  invite  me  to 
stay  and  have  a  meal  with  h"m.  1>.  1,  we're  bounced. 
This  bogus  line  goes  n-,  further." 

As  Jim  sat  at  supper   n  the  tent  he  told  in  low  voice, 


Mil 


i  i 


326 


The  Victors 


fcannji  other  ..stcncrs.  the  story  of  the  two  days.  Near- 
ing  the  ciul  of  the  narration.  I{en  paced  up  and  down  the 
narrow  limits  of  the  tent  in  great  excitement,  running  his 
hn,|ers  through  h  s  hair,  and  barking  out  a  question  now 
and  then. 

"  n-erc's  no  use  making  a  fuss  al)out  it,  Ben,"  con- 
ch.ded  A  onro.  "  We're  dismissed,  and  there's  notliing 
more  to  be  said.  And  after  all,  Mitchell  gave  us  fair 
warnmg  at  the  start." 

thnult  ^^'•"  '"r''"'*^'^  n^"'  "  ^^^^'^  "'^*  ''-'"'^^  a  moment's 
thought.    i\ow.  Jmi.  will  you  stand  by  me  ?  " 

"  Of  course." 

♦1,"  .^"o"  J  *''"  ^P"'  J'""'  ^'''^  ^"S^'"  "f  t'l*^  Lord  is  in 
this!  Our  fortune's  made.  Now  let's  have  a  fair  un- 
derstanding. What  I  fear  is  this  girl.  You're  not  going 
to  aUow  her  to  complicate  the  business,  are  you?  " 

''^  How  do  you  mean,  complicate?  " 

"  Well.  Jim,  plain  out  and  out— you're  a  silent  fellow 
where  women  are  concerned— not  like  me  a  bit— I  tell  you 
everything.  Now,  I  want  to  know  about  this  girl  Are 
you  in  love  with  her  ?  " 

"  What  has  that  to  do  with  the  matter  '  " 

"  r.ut  are  you  '  •' 

Jertainly   not.      l' haven't   as   much   cheek   as   you 
n 

Then  you  can  have  no  objection  to  mv  making  a  deal 
with  her  father?"  '  ^ 

"No-o-o."  replied  Ji:n,  slowly;  "but  I  shouldn't  like 
you  to  use  any  information  she  gave  me.  or  to  mention  her 
name,  you  know." 

"  That's  all  right.  I'll  never  mention  her  name.  Of 
course,  I'm  going  to  act  on  the  knowledge  I  now  possess, 
but  here's  a  po-:nt  that  puzzles  me.  Do  you  imagine  that 
so  shrewd  a  man  as  Mitchell  doesn't  know  the  value  of 
the  concession  he  got  from  the  legislature?  Now  here 
have  certain  people  been  trying  for  months  to  find  out 
what  we  are  doing.  At  any  time  since  we  started  we 
might  have  got  big  money  for  telling  the  little  we  knew. 
Glassthrop  and  Mitchell  warned  us  that  this  would  be 


"  By  a  sealed  compact,  well  ratified  "     327 

the  case,  therefore  they  niust  have  known  who  was  coine 
to  make  the  mqu.ry.    Don't  vou  think  so?  -  ^    ^ 

^o.  I  imaKine  they  inten.led  it  to  leak  out  that  a 
railway  was  .n  pro^-ress.  Wliat  they  wanted  concealed 
was  that  they,  the  ow.ers  of  the  land',  were  the  rea  pro- 
jectors of  the  railroad."  ^ 

"  lUit  it  doesn't  seem  possble  that.  w:th  all  this  spyin<r 
ffoins:  on  Mitchell  shouhl  not  have  become  aware  of  the 
value  of  his  franchise.  ' 

"  One  would  think  so ;  hut  you  must  remember  that  his 
attention  has  been  concentrated  on  the  profit  he  would 
niake  by  the  sale  of  his  land,  clearing,  as  he  has  done, 
tuo  hundred  thousand  d<,llan,  in  the  transaction.  Then 
railroad  business  is  out  of  his  line.  Heside...  as  you  have 
just  said,  spying  means  secrecy,  and  the  railway  people 
have  been  very  quiet  in  their  investi^ratiims." 

Well.  I  m  sroinR-  to  have  a  try  for  it.  and  if  the  lone 
fisherman  isn  in  his  bunk  I  intend  to  talk  business 
with  him  now. 

Hen  bolted  out  of  the  tent  and  ran  down  the  bank  to 
the  spot  where  the  fisherman's  canvas  gleamed  white  in 
the  darkness. 

"  Have  you  turned  in  vet.  sir  ? "  he  asked 

hsie^nake^k-  "'"  ^^'^'  ^"^'  '"'"■-      ^'''    >'°"'  ^^^^'- 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  Ben  as  he  came  in. 

The  tent  of   the    fisherman  was    no    such  rough  and 
ready  aflfa.r  as  that  of  the  engineers.  It  had  a  boa?d  floor 
and  a  1  modern  improvements.  The  manager  sat  in  a  can- 
vas chair  at  a  camp  table  with  manv  dociir...nts  on  it 
i'Jor'enterecr"     ''  '°''''"^  '"''''  ^  newspaper  as  his  vis: 

"Anything  new.  McAllister?  You  seem  excited 
which  IS  somethmg  unusual  in  this  quiet  localitv  " 

I  don  t  know  that  there's  anything  new.  Mr  Van 
Ness ;  new  to  me,  perhaps,  but  not  to  you.  I  have  found 
out  who  you  are  and  whv  vou  are  here,  that  is  all  " 

The  manager  maintained  h's  impassive  demeanour 
^^^en  the  other  mentioned  his  name,  then  he  said  non- 
chalantly : 


ij 


328 


The  Victors 


i 


"  Well,  that  ouRht  to  simplify  matters  a  bit,  don't  you 
think?" 

"  I  think  so,  and  that's  why  I'm  here.  Mr.  Van  Ness, 
how  much  arc  you  willinjf  to  pay  for  the  franchise  that 
will  allow  you  to  run  a  railway  through  Lioontown 
Notch  ?  " 

"  Arc  you  the  possessor  of  the  franchise?" 

"  I'or  the  sake  of  nc^titiation.  take  it  for  granted  that 
I  am." 

"  I  thought  you  were  an  employe,  not  a  pr  ncipal?" 

"  111  answer  your  questions  when  you  first  answer 
mine." 

"Which  is?" 

"  How  much  will  you  jrive?  ' 

*'  How  much  do  you  want  ?  " 

"  A  million." 

Mr.  Van  Ness  threw  back  his  head  and  roared  with 
laughter. 

"  I  wouldn't  give  a  million  for  the  state,"  he  said. 

"  No  more  would  I.  if  I  had  it.  I  merely  mention  the 
amount  as  a  beginning  of  negotiation.  You  seemej  re- 
luctant about  nani'ng  a  fi,'.jure,  so  I  name  one." 

"  Quite  so.    Well,  what  do  you  say  to  ten  thousand?  " 

"  I  say  that  if  you  wanted  the  concession  and  went  to 
the  legislature  for  it,  you  would  laugh  at  the  idea  of  ten 
thousand  as  a  beginning  of  your  lobbying  fund  alone;  and 
then  very  likely  you  wouldn't  succeed,  for  the  combined 
opposition  would  outbid  you." 

"  You  take  a  cynical  view  of  the  legislative  function 
for  so  young  a  man.  Doesn't  the  good  of  the  state  count 
for  anything?  The  opening  up  of  a  new  district,  and  all 
that?" 

"  Have  you  founfl  the  good-of-the-state  idea  of  much 
assistance  to  you.  Mr.  \'an  Ness,  in  getting  the  right  to 
go  through  the  Notch  ?  " 

"  Oh,  well,  it  counts,  you  know.  You  must  never  ig- 
nore the  honest  element  either  in  f)olitics  or  business.  My 
experience  is  that  the  man  who  depends  on  bribery,  if 
that's  what  you're  hinting  at.  is  ultimately  as  unsuccessful 
as  the  man  who  has  visionary  notions  about  the  incor- 


;If;  ^  I 


W: 


^^itMW^SK^ 


^W^ 


^..  -mm^.. 


"  By  a  scaled  compact,  well  rati  lied       T^2q 


niptibility  of  tvcryboily.     A  jiulicious  cojnbinatioii  is  the 
winniii;^'  card. 

"  Can  liiiticsty  and  dishonesty  be  judicicjuslv  com- 
bined? 

"Ah,  now  wo  are  wandering  nitu  the  cth  cs  of  tliinj^s. 
Let's  St  ck  tu  the  Notch.  \Vc  will  take  it  that  within  a 
week  you  are  in  a  position  to  make  over  th  s  franchise  to 
me,  which  means  that  you  are  either  thi'  possessor  of  it,  or 
that  vou  have  an  o|)tion  on  it  at  a  certain  ))rice.  and  that 
you  want  to  sell  at  a  profit.  Wry  j^ood.  Have  you  any 
objection  to  ^tatinir  the  price  you  are  to  pay?  " 

I"  I  cannot  yet  tell  what  price  I  shall  have  to  pav." 

"Then  tliaf  answers  the  (juestion  I  asked  you  a  little 
tinie  since  Wm  do  not  own  the  concession!  You  arc 
selling  the  Hon's  skin  before  killinj;  the  lion.  Now.  I  have 
a  shrewd  idea  that  i  know  who  owns  the  concession. 
Mitchell  is  the  man  who  put  it  throujjh;  he  likely  is  still 
in  possession  <>(  it.  He  arrived  at  his  ranch  to-day,  my 
men  inform  me.  and  your  comrade  went  to  meet  him. 
The  concession  has  i)robably  been  offered  to  your  friend, 
and  you  two  have  not  the  capital  in  hand  to  purchase. 
Am  1  rij4:ht  in  my  surmises?  " 

"  (Jnly  partly." 

"  Why  should  1  deal  with  you  ?  Why  not  eliminate  the 
inidille  man?  Why  should  I  not  jjo  direct  to  Mitchell 
and  outbid  you?  " 

"  "dimply  because  vouve  jfot  some  sense,  Mr.  Van 
Ness  " 

■  1  tattering,  but  indefinite      Explain." 

"  Tirj  moment  you  go  to  Mitchell  the  game  is  up.  lie's 
just  t\<  sharp  as  they  make  em.  Wlien  a  great  railway 
managtr  or  an>one  connected  with  him  enters  the  am- 
test,  and  Mitchell  gets  a  hint  of  the  value  of  the  conces- 
sion to  wealthy  riilway  combinations,  there  need  then 
be  no  laughter  when  a  million  is  mentioned.  You  change 
the  venue  from  the  woods  of  Carolna  to  Broadway,  New 
York,  and  that  is  not  a  cheapening  process,  as  you  are 
well  aware." 

"  Then  Mitcliell  does  not  know  the  value  of  his  hold- 
ing?" 


330 


The  Victors 


"  He  does  not." 

"  W'liat  has  he  been  fooling^  about  here  for'" 
"He  has  been   sdhn-  his   land.     He  has  just  sold 
tvvenly-hve  thousand  acres  of  th:s  forest  for  ten  dollars 
an  acre.     Before  this  c.gincering  bhiff  was  put  up  he 
bought  It  for  one  dollar  an  acre." 

.'<t^^^-,   '.^"^  >°"  ''^^^  "ow  been  discharged'  ' 
Exactly.  " 

"  Naturally  you  are  disappointed,  ^nd  he  has  offered 
you  the  conces3ion  at  a  price,  so  that  if  you  get  other 
capitalists  to  go  on  with  it  vou  are  not  out  of  a  job  " 

•  1  ractically  that's  it,  although,  to  speak  frankly,  no 
price  has  been  named." 

T  iV^  ^  "V^"  ^^^"^^  *°  ^°  business  with  me  that's  the  way 
1  hke  to  hear  him  talk.     Now,  111  tell  you  what  I'll  do 
Uf  course,  you  understand  I'm  not  acting  for  myself  in 
this,  but  on  behalf  of  certain  companies  in  which  :  am 
interested,   and   which   have   delegated   certain    liivited 

fr/!?  u  "'^;  ^V^  ^'^  '''^"'"^  ^°  '^^y  <^"e  hundred  laou- 
sand  do  lars  for  the  concession.  Ycu  come  to  terms  with 
Alitchell.  taking  your  friend  as  witness.  If  you  can  buy 
well  and  goqd ;  if  not,  get  Mitchell  to  put  down  in  writing 
What  he  will  do;  then  come  to  me  at  my  private  car  in 
Pil  ageville.  and  I  will  furnish  the  amount  of  money  you 
lack  to  complete  the  deal.  When  the  franchise  is  made 
oyer  to  me  I'll  pay  the  rest  of  the  hundred  thousand  to 
you.    Is  that  satisfactory  ?  " 

"  Perfectly." 

"  Very  well.  We'll  just  jot  these  particulars  down  on 
a  couple  of  sheets  of  paper  so  there  can  be  no  misunder- 
stand :ng.     You'll  keep  one  and  I  the  other." 

When  this  was  done  and  McAllister  rose  to  ro  Van 
Ness  searching  amon-  his  papers  brought  forth  a  Form  not 
tilled  m. 

"  This  is  a  blank  deed  of  transfer.  I  don't  su'^'^est  that 
you  use  it.  but  I  advise  you  to  read  it  before  \ou  see 
Alitchell.  so  that  you  may  be  able  to  judge  approximately 
whether  or  not  the  document  you  get  from  him  is  what  it 
should  be  ■  Of  course  it  would  be  better  to  fiM  in  the=e 
blanks  and  have  tncm  siirned  and  witnessed  properly  but 


"  By  a  sealed  compact,  well  ratified"    331 

if  you  come  to  h'm  too  well  cfiuippcd,  he  mav  suspect  at 
once  that  there  is  more  in  this  than  appears 'on  the  sur- 
face, and  so  may  hreak  off  ne.i^^ot.aticns.  He  will  know 
that  these  blank  forms  do  not  ^row  in  the  woods  of 
North  Carolina.  Probably  he  lias  one  or  more  of  these 
forms  in  his  own  po.^sess:o:l,  an  1  if  he  is  dealing  squarely 
with  you.  which  is  always  possible,  may  use  it.  Your 
fr;end  and  one  of  his  own  men  should  sij^n  as  witnesses. 
I  may  say  that  it  is  advisable  in  a  case  like  this  to  close 
the  negotiations  at  the  first  interview  if  vou  can.  The 
matter,  as  I  understand  it,  will  require  'not  too  eager 
handling.  Tact  is  necessary,  but  it  is  in  the  successful 
manipulation  of  such  materials  as  are  at  vour  disposal 
that  money  :s  made.  Have  you  any  cash  to  pay  down  ?  " 
"Jim  and  I  together  have  over  a  thousand 'dollars  in 
the  Pillageville  bank." 

"  Have  you  got  a  cheque  book  with  vou  ?  " 
"  Yes,  sir.'' 

"  Then  1  advise  you  to  give  him  vour  cheques  for  as 
much  as  you  will  be  able  to  jiay  when  you  receive  his 
document.  Take  a  receipt  for  it  and  promise  the  rest,  say, 
within  a  week,  or  such  tme  as  will  give  vou  the  oppor- 
tunity for  getting  the  remainder.  Go  cautiously,  but  not 
too  cautiously,  and  luck  be  with  you.    Good-night." 

When  McAllister  got  outside 'of  the  tent  he  drew  a 
deep  breath  of  the  cool  mountain  air.  "  It's  too  good  to 
be  true,"  he  whispered  to  himself.  "  It  can't  be  true.  O 
Lord,  guide  me  that  I  make  no  mistake !  " 

Van  Ness  sat  in  his  tent,  looking-  straight  ahead  of  him, 
a  frown  wrinkling  h's  fine  intellectual  brow.  "  What 
hardened  villains  business  makes  of  us!  "  he  said  to  him- 
self. "  It's  a  shame  to  take  advantage  of  the  simple  in- 
nocence of  that  young  man.  The  franchise  is  cheap  at 
half  a  million,  but,  alas !  business  is  business." 


■  i  > 


iimi 


II 


I 


i 


I 


CHAPTER    III 

"the    devil    shall    have    his    liARGAIN  " 

Next  day  the  two  young  men,  accompanied  by  the 

camp  followers,  with  the  tents,  instruments,  and  other 

paraphernalia  of  their  outing,  went  through  the  forest  to 

the  ranch  where  Mr.  Mitchell  hoped  to  recover  health 

and  tone.     The  impedimenta  was  placed  in  a  shed   the 

workmen  lounged  about  smoking,  while  the  two  engineers 

entered  the  large  Iqg  house  for  their  final  interview  with 

their  late  employer.    Both  were  in  a  state  of  suppressed 

excitement,  but  neither  wished  to  show  it.    Each  felt  that 

the  success  of  his  life  depended  on  the  outcome  of  this 

momentous  conference.    Ben  was  to  do  the  talking;  Jim 

vvas  to  be  the  silent  onlooker.    It  was  to  be  a  conte.st.  not 

of  .spoken  lies  perhaps— Ben's  principles  would  not  admit 

of  his  telling  a  falsehood— but  the  lies  were  to  be  acted. 

if  either  of  them  had  gone  deep  enough  into  his  inner 

consciousness  to  realise  that  fact. 

Mitchell  received  them  with  much  of  his  old  impassive 
calm.     He  said  he  already  felt  a  great  deal   better ;  the 
mountain  air  was  reviving  him,  and  the  car  wheels  rolling 
over  his  brain  would  soon  cease  their  rumbling.    In  fact 
he  had  had,  for  he  first  time  in  weeks,  a  reasonably  good 
night  s  sleep.     These  preliminaries  of  polite  inquiry  and 
answer  being  over,   Mitchell  became  the  alert  man  of 
business  at  once ;  seated  himself  at  a  desk,  asked  them  to 
draw  up  chairs  near  it,  called  for  accounts  and  statements 
ran  through  them  rapidly  but  minutely,  seeming  to  under- 
stand their  import  at  a  glance.    He  had  a  keen  scent  for 
the  most  trivial  error,  demanding  explanations  wherever 
anything  was   obscure,   and   comparing  vouchers    with 
swift  conclusiveness.    Jim  looked  on  in  amazement.    Here 
sat  a  man  who  was  in  possession  of  two  hundred  thou- 
332 


"  The  Devil  shall  have  his  bargain  "    333 

sand  dollars  throu^rh  thcT  cfforLs.  IIa:l  tluv  bmi  dis- 
honest or  talkative  men  he  could  not  have  earned  through 
h.s  scheme  to  success ;  yet  he  was  verifying  minute 
details  to  the  la^  cent.  Surely  after  it  was  all  balanced 
and  found  correct  he  would  at  least  offer  something  extra 
to  the  workmg  men  outside?  But  it  was  not  so  He 
counted  o-.it  from  his  cash  box  the  precise  amount  due 
to  each,  wrote,  with  his  own  hand,  receipts  in  full,  had 
these  signed,  and  the  men  were  curtlv  dismissed  without 
even  a  word  of  thanks.     Business.      ' 

Ben  and  Jim  took  what  was  their  due,  having  appended 
signatures  to  the  documents  presented  to  them,  and  then 
Mitchell  leaned  back  in  his  chair  with  an  air  of  conclu- 
sion, which  said  plainly  to  them :  "  Now  what  are  you  two 
waiting  for  ?  "  What  he  said  aloud  was :  "  You  can  ride 
back  in  the  buggy,  which  will  oblige  me,  and  make  the 
journey  comfortable  to  yourselves.'' 

Ben  caught  his  breath,  cast  his  eyes  on  the  floor,  and 
began  the  diplomatic  battle. 

"  I  suppose,  Mr.  Mitchell,  there  is  little  use  in  asking 
if  you  or  Mr.  Glassthrop— if  there  is  any  chance  that  you 
may  reconsider  your  determination— the  conclusion  which 
my  friend  tells  me  you  have  come  to,  and  go  on  with  the 
road  ?  " 

"  Not  the  slightest  chance  of  it.'' 

"  But  if  you  should  change  your  minds,  would  you  have 
any  objection  to  employing  us  again  ? '" 

"  Certainly.  If  we  were  such  fools  as  to  go  on  with  the 
road,  we  should  employ  competent  engineers.  I  am  an 
honest  man,  and  there  is  no  good  in  holding  out  to  you 
polite  hopes  that  will  never  be  fulfilled." 

"  But  don't  you  th-nk  such  a  road  would  pay? '' 

"  Do  you  think  so  ?  " 

"  Why  shouldn't  it  ?  " 

"  Simply  because  there  is  neither  freight  nor  passenger 
traffic  to  go  over  it.    Isn't  that  reason  enough  ?  " 

"  But  there  is  the  timber." 

"How  long  woul'.l  that  last?  Could  you  get  enough 
out  of  the  freight  on  the  logs  or  the  lumber  to  pay  for 


B 


334 


The  Victors 


your  roadbed  and  your  right  of  way,  not  to  mention  roll- 
ing stock?  Of  course  you  couldn't,  and  after  the  timber 
was  gone,  where  would  you  be?  Wait  another  century 
for  more  trees  to  grow?    Xo,  sir.    It  isn't  good  enough." 

"  Don't  you  think  a  company  might  be  formed — you 
said  you  and  Mr.  (ilassthrop  formed  companies — ' 

"  Yes,  but  we  must  have  something  to  form  a  company 
on.  I  have  no  doubt  it  could  be  done — .  Companies  can 
be  promoted  for  any  fool  purpose,  but  we  wouldn't  touch 
it.  In  the  first  place  it  is  not  in  our  line ;  we  don't  handle 
railroads ;  come  smash  if  we  attempted  it.  Too  much 
capital  required ;  too  much  risk,  and  too  much  swindling 
by  the  heads  of  the  concerns.  They  want  to  do  all  the 
grabbing  themselves,,  and  they  could  easily  freeze  us  out, 
for,  as  I  told  your  friend  yesterday,  we  are  but  poor  men 
in  Xew  York.  Poor  but  honest,  a:  the  saying  is,  and  we 
can't  buck  against  Wall  Street.  But  don't  let  me  discour- 
age you.  For  all  I  know,  you  two  may  be  the  coming 
railroad  kings  of  America.  I've  seen  ^.tranger  things  than 
that  happen.  If  you  want  to  try  your  hand,  I'll  let  you 
have  the  franchise  cheap;  I'm  through  with  it." 

"  Don't  you  think  an  inexpensive  logging  railway,  such 
as  they  have  in  the  woods  of  nortiiern  Michigan,  might 
pay — a  road  with  no  cuttings,  no  embankments,  laid  with 
second-hand  rails,  and  equipped  with  old  discarded  roll- 
ing stock  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  but  it  would :  still,  as  I  tell  you,  all  that 
is  out  of  my  line.  I'd  be  glad  to  see  you  build  it,  though ; 
:t  wouldn't  hurt  my  property  a  little  bit." 

"  Would  you  put  any  money  in  such  a  line  if  we  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  up  a  small  company  to  go  on  with  ?  " 

"  Not  a  cent." 

"  Even  if  railroads,  logging  or  otherwise,  are  out  of 
your  line,  you  can  give  us  a  hint  as  to  the  possibility  of 
getting  up  money  for  snch  an  enterprise.  What  would 
be  our  chances  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know.  You  never  can  tell  what  two  young 
energetic  men  might  do.  T  should  say  there's  a  fair  fight- 
ing chance  for  yyu,  depending  altogether  on  how  you  set 


w:--wir-  .' 


"The  Devil  shall  have  his  bargain"    335 


about  it,  and  whether  you  can  interest  capitalists  in  it ; 
depending,  too, a  little  on  talk,l)ut  not  s)  much  as  people 
suppose,  for  a  great  deal  more  rests  with  the  project  you 
place  before  them.     Dn  you  know  any  capitalists  ?  " 

"  One,  but  he  says  he  won't  touch  it." 

"  Meaninjj  me.  Well,  you  sec.  I  never  meddle  with 
anything- 1  can't  control,  and  which  I  know  nothing  about, 
but  I'm  willing  to  help  you  at  the  start  by  letting  you  have 
the  franchise  cheap.  I'm  always  willing  to  sell  anything 
I've  got."  He  stooped  down,  opened  a  drawer  in  the 
desk,  pulled  a  paper  from  within,  and  threw  it  on  the 
table.  "  There  is  the  document  with  possibilities  of  wealth 
in  it  for  two  youn<2r  speculators.  How  much  will  you  give 
for  it?" 

Ben  slowly  shook  his  head. 

"You  wouldn't  let  us  have  it  on  spec,  would  you?" 

"  You  mean,  make  it  over  to  you  and  trust  to  chance 
for  getting  anything  for  it  ?  No.  sir.  I  never  do  business 
that  way.  I  sell  cheap,  but  on  a  cash  basis.  How  much 
money  have  you  got  ?  " 

"  I've  got  five  hundred  dollars  in  the  Pillageville  bank." 

Mitchell  tossed  the  document  back  into  its  former 
place  again,  and  kicked  the  drawer  shut  with  his  foot. 

"  Five  hundred  dollars !  What's  the  use  wasting  time 
talking  about  five  hundred  dollars?  I  wouldn't  walk  to 
the  foot  of  my  ranch  for  five  hundred  dollars." 

"  I'll  lend  )U  my  five  hundred  dollars."'  said  Jim, 
speaking  for  i  ^  first  time.  "  but.  like  Mr.  Mitchell,  I  won't 
have  anything  10  do  with  the  matter  myself." 

"  There,  you  see,  your  credit  is  good,"  put  in  Mitchell 
with  a  smile  that  was  half  a  sneer.  "  A  man  whose  credit 
is  good  can  do  much  in  this  country,  except  during  a 
panic." 

"  Well,  it's  like  this.  Mr.  Mitchell,  if  we  succeed,  we 
raise  the  price  of  the  property  you  hold  anywhere  up  to 
half  a  million  or  so.  You  ought  to  take  that  into  consider- 
ation." 

"  //  you  succeed !     There's  a  lot  in  that  '  if.'  " 

"  If  we  don't,  ihen  we  lose  our  money,  and  your  fran- 


if 


i  l\'. 

!     '; 

'      .                ■■ 

336 


The  Victors 


chise  is  just  so  much  waste  paper.    A  thousand  dollars  is 
a  good  deal  to  pay  for  a  bit  of  waste  paper." 

'*  Quite  so,  but  what  is  waste  paper  in  useless  hands 
becomes  property  when  the  right  man  takes  hold  of  it 
You  offer  me  a  thousand  dollars,  cash,  mind,  no  three 
months  from  date  business." 

"  Certainly.    Cash  down.' 

"All  right,  the  franchise  is  yours.  Got  your  cheque 
books  with  you  ?  ■'  ^ 

''  Yes.  sir."  said  Jim  and  Ren  simultaneously. 

'  Well,  we've  talked  more  about  it  than  the  whole 
thmg  IS  worth;  you  write  your  cheques  and  I'll  make  out 
a  transfer. 

As  they  wrote  their  cheques  they  saw  him  take  from 

another  drawer  a  bhnk  form,  similar  to  the  one  Ben  had 

in  his  pocket,  and,  with  the  rapidity  of  long  familiarity,  fill 

It  out.    Once  he  looked  up  sharply  and  said  to  McAllister  • 

X  am  selling  to  you  alone;  not  to  the  two  of  you." 

^^  1  o  me  alone,'   replied  Ben. 

"Then  Monro  can  witness  this,  with  my  man." 

The   man   was  called  in  and  appended  his  signature  un- 
der that  of  Monro     Mitchell  glanced  at  the  two  cheques 
for  five  hundred  dollars  each  and  pinned  them  together 
^ow,  gentlemen,  I  propose  to  send  my  man  to  Pil- 
lageville  with  all  these  documents.     He  will  go  to  the 
bank,  present  the  cheques  and  then  hand  the  other  papers 
to  you.    This  IS  no  imputation  on  your  good  faith  at  all 
but  merely  business.     If  I  were  you.  I  should  take  this 
deed  of  transfer  to  a  lawyer  there  and  have  him  look  it 
over,  and  tell  ytni  whether  it  is  all  right  or  not     That's 
no  imputation  on  me.     If  he  makes  alterations  you  can 
bring  It  back  here  and  I  will  initial  the  changes,  or  you 
can  get  him  to  write  out  a  new  deed  which  I  will  sim 
Anything  else  I  can  do  for  you  ?  " 

"  Nothing  else,  thank  you,  Mr.  Mitchell." 
"  Then  I'll  bid  you  good-bve.  I  feel  a  little  tired  over 
even  this  trivial  amount  of  business,  an  J  I  want  to  get 
out  into  the  open  air  again.  I  may  say  there  is  just  as 
much  chance  of  your  getting  up  a  company  for  a  logging 
railway,  or  any  other,  as  there  is  of  your  getting  to  the 


"The  Devil  shall  have  his  bargain"     337 
inoon.  but  that's  your  aflfar.  not  mine.    A  little  expercncc 

'Tli\rh".n- "^"'  ""^  ^'''"'  ^"/'  ''''  g"«^l-^lay.  gentlemen.  ' 
Mitchell  s  man  got  astnde  a  horse  and  galloped  on 

Mitchell  to  the  ranch  the  day  before  was  stan.ling  in  readi- 
ness and  into  the  vehicle  climbed  McAllister  and  Monro 

Kr    J^'^f    ""•  ,*  '^  v^''"""'''    P3>^    with    excitement       Ren 
b  eathed  quickly,  like  a  man  who  had  won  a  hard  rac 
J")\took  up  the  rems  and  drove  off 

Well.  Benny."  he  said  at  last,  "  was  the  Lord  vour 
partner  in  th's  deal?  "  - 

•'You  bet  he  was!  "  cried  Ren  with  enthusiasm. 
I   don  t   believe   it.     The   devil   presided   over   that 
negotiation  and  how  he  must  have  chuckled  !    There  was 
Mitchell  taking,  as  he  thought,  advantage  of  two  green'- 
horns;  selling  what  he  regarded  as  a  bit  of  useless  paper 
for  all  the  money  we  had.    I  saw  him  figuring  up  our  forty 
dollars  a  week  on  a  ^heet  of  paper  to  make  sure  he  was 
rooking  us  of  every  penny  we  possessed.    That's  whv  he 
threw  the  document  into  the  drawer  again.     He  knew 
l.Tn'^f  '"°'*'"'  ^r  ''""^'•^d  '■"  °"^  possession,  and  lie 
clu  Che's    ^And   T,   \'\''V'^.  '  ^''^   he  got   it  in   hi^ 
h.v.    nA    .1        ^   l^'*'   ^^   "1"'^^  cynicallv   admits   we 
after  h.vinJT^    of    ever    getting    our    monev    back, 
after  having  pretended  he  thought  there  was  something 

ZrJ:Y  u^  ^°M  ^  '°^^'"S:  railwav.  And  vet.  of  the 
two  of  you.  he  strikes  me  as  the  mofe  honest."  for  never 
d.d  you  give  him  a  hint  that  you  were  betti-;-  on  a  sure 
thing. 

"  And  what  about  you.  sittinj^  there  an  ,  .sav'.ig  noth- 
ing, yet  knowing  you  were  going  to  benefit  a.^  much  as  I ' 
oTs  eecT?  "  ''"''°"^'^>'  °^  "'^""'^^  as  w^'"  as  a  dishonesty 

vei'  Pdn^f  L^'"'/  V"">'  V'"  *^^"  ''''''''  "^  ^he  lot;  and 
yet  I  don  t  know.     I  don  t  drag  in  the  Lord  as  vou  do. 

and  I  m  not  plainly  partner  with  the  devil,  as  Mitchell 

IS.     Half  a  dozen  times  I  felt  like  shouting  out   '  ()  vou 

precons  pa-r  of  scoundrels! '    The  fact  that  I  repressed 

myself  shows  me  to  be  as  great  a  scoundrel  as  either  " 

Ainety-nme   thousand    dollars.   Jimmy;   ninetv-nine 

22 


I  i 


liK 


i    i\ 


illi  i: 

-  'w  ■ 


338 


Tlie  Victors 


each!    i\ot  a  scrap  of  wntinsf  between  us,  not  even  the 
poken    promise,    yet    you   know  youVe    poinffto   m 
that  money  as  sure  as  I  j^et  it.     You  can  hardly  accuse 
a  man  who  w.l    Cvicle-  as  fair  as  that  of  dishone/tv>  " 
I  have  an  old-fash-oned  notion.  Hen.  that  this  monev 

of  7^17 1' ill^T-  '•  ^'r''  ^^'^"^''  -•"  -^  ^-  -""^t 

oi  !  ooci.    1  feel  it  in  mv  bones 

;;  If  we  get  it?    Why  do  you  say  that?  " 

Hv.  T""?/"  "'^  ^'^^'^  "'"'^  ^^  ^  ^'■'P-"P  somewhere  for 
two  such  villains  as  we  are.  Surely,  we  'are  walking  into 
a  trap  of  some  sort.     We  deserve  it  so." 

IJon  t,  Jimmy,  don't!     Don't  talk  like  that.     It  is  my 

ing  to  Mitchell  nly  knees  began  to  wobble  backward  and 
couKln'tVo".'  T'  ^'''''  ;"  '^'''''''  ^^^'^'^  ^he  fioor 

ort^ crazy  m""''  "'"''''''  '"^'  ^^^^  ^^  '^  ^  "^"^^  ^^'•■-^•" 
or  go  craz).     ]VIy  nerves  are  all  racked  to  pieces    and 

~  or  J'  f  '^°"  *  """"'^  i'''^  ^v'lat  will  happen  " 

Uh,   1   know.     As   the   wicked   partner,   I'll   do   the 

h^JL  \  J^\  ^""^  ^''"^'■=  ^^■'■«^'-  people  than  we  were 
before  having  lost  a  thousand  dollars  ind  learned  some! 
t^hmg  ,n  return  f.r  the  money.     That's  what  ".11  hTp- 

"  If  you   knew  how   queer  I   am  feeling,   Jimmv     you 

would  have  more  mercy  than  to  talk  in  tS  daT  v-u  are 

doing.     If  you  can't  talk  sense,  keep  quiet;  that's  easy  '' 

You  sa:d  just  now  it  wasn't,     j'.race  up.  P.enny  you 

shorn  ^::^ll  "^  '  '"""^'  "'•'  '■'  '  ^^-'^  ^'°  >•-  -^v  ^'-  " 
shot,  bellow  away;  we  are  in  the  wilderness,  and'  there's 
no  o,      to  near  vou. 

;;  It     cans  so  much  more  to  me  than  it  does  to  you." 
Wby,  if  you  re  going  to  divide  up  even?     I  confess 

time  to  dicker  with  me.  I'll  compound  the  felony  at  the 
present  moment  for  quarter  the  mnnev,  btit  once  I'gc  my 
hands  on  it.  I'm  not  so  sure  I  would  let  any  of  it  go  ^y 
does  It  mean  more  to  you  than  to  me?  "  ^ 


"Tlic  Ucvil  shall  have  his  bargain"     339 

I'ls  consent,  vou'knovv-  ""  "'"  "'^n' 

_^;;,!vo  ffo,  h„  da„sl„er-s  consen.;  .ha,',,  onouRh  for 

■ake'  i'"""  ""-■  °'"'  """■    "'^  '°  '«  a  rnn-away  match,  I 

■ .:,;  "sais,-;  •^■t,',:'^  "ijLl:"'-'-  'v  -""^  "»• ''-" 

don-!  l-nT  '  '°  '""  ™"  °'  "''  ='>™  "--istci;  if  vou 
and  tl.e  papers."  "^  '  """'  '""  I""!'  *''q"M 

bu:,-LsT"b^t'tcr'^;f'  wrr^ar'i!:;;' '  "ii"^-  "t'"  •""-« 

limbs."  '  ^  illagevillo  with  unbroken 

anllw  !w''""'  ^^"■''\P^'P'^^t>"ff  s'-<les  and  smoking  flanks 
nnally  drew  up  at  the  door  of  the  bnnL-      \^h.^  J,  "anks, 

was  standing  on  the  sidou.lL  /  ?,  S  ^*'''''"  '  "'^" 
tied  to  a  not  HI  ,']''^^  ^^  '''^^  front,  his  horse 
uecl  to  a  post.     He  handed  tlie  documents  to  Ben  and 

"  AlTr'  T.  ''?n  ,""!'"'  >'°"  '^^^'  «^'^"  tlie  lawyer." 
All  nght ;  I  II  be  back  in  a  moment." 

with  him  wa;  '  ?r  ''''  '^"?''^^'"  ^'^'^'"^  f^"-  him.  and 
witn  him  was  .  lawyer,  so  that  Ben  had  done  well  to 
go  to  the  private  car  direct. 


i( 


■ 

i 

. 

lL_ 

I 

B 

1  !■ 

H 

■ 

m 

1 

340 


The  V^ictors 


The    le^al    frcntlcman  read    the  naoers  c-ir«.f,.llv    o„^ 

\ou  havo  siicctoU-,1  admiralilv,"  he  sai.l     "  I  „nn-. 
ask  you  how  much  vou  havo  uai.l   Lr  .1,,.  •  ^ 

the  busmess  at  an  end.     I  have  a  couple  of  m^n  here  who 
will  witness  your  sJKTiature.' 

Thus  the  transaction   was  terniimtf^rl   f«  ♦!,«. 
satisfaction  of  all  concerned.  llTXtX    o^h7chaf 
ferins:  believed  in  his  heart  that  he  had  cheated  the  oer 
son  with  whom  he  negotiated.  ^ 


;i.  '\:" 


NJ'. 


'■iH 


CIIAPTKR    IV 

"VOUR    E.xroSITJO.V    ON    THE    ilOl.V    TEXT   ' 

Refo«e  the  train  came  in  wliich  was  to  carrv  liim  ,.„r.l, 
w^r,l  Iton  went  to  .l,e  hotel  and  wrote  a  In  rri  7e  te  m 
M.SS  Constance  Kraser  of  Stonnboro,  111.  He  to  II,  r 
U,a  as  soon  a,  he  ha<l  .lone  an  hours  business  in  x« 
■Vork  he  was  conim(r  west  to  marrv  her  travell  n,i  l,v 
the  fastest  tran,  the  lines  leading  stinsetwanU  aff.ml.  i 

^    fie  shouTl' h?"""  ''"""«"  '"  '''>''"  """^ckoepinK 

/his^a!;3fo^^oftu,r'»';,ui!4ir'^^^ 
housr^ervT:  aT^r:^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

5;'^5';:':s.-ri^i^abi-si£ii 

father  and  h:s  proM,ective  son-in-law.     He  boasted  i  J 

be  "  r'",d  tt  """T'     ""'.'''  always  LSrtj 
be  r  cli       ul  this  was  hut  a  first  instalment  of  what  he 

York  .-dT" '*'  ?^"   '''  ^°^  '"^°  ^"--"ess    n   New 

sTi^     And  ""V""'^"'"''^'  'i^,  ^''  ^^'^'^^  ^"'^  compan-on- 
sliip.     And  so,  hopinpT  speedily  to  clasp  her  in  his  arms 

he  remamed  her  true  lover.  P.en  McAllister 

On  the  way  to  Xew  York  Hen  persuaded  his  friend  to 
oonie  west  w>th  him  an.i  see  him  through  that  im^rtant 
cr,s.s.  the  marnasre  service.  Jim  was  rather  reluctmit  he 
had  not  the  calm  confidence  which  Ben  possessed  that  the 

34t 


•■ffi^w.*.. -rjiv.-«p 


342 


Tlic  Victors 


ceremony  would  take  place  so  soon,  hut  the  prospective 
groom  was  juhilantly  optimistic,  an.l  would  take  no  dc- 
n'al.  He  would  carry  the  girl  off.  hi-  said,  in  spite  of  her 
own  opposition,  or  that  of  anyone  else. 

Their  journey  westward  on  this  occasion  was  under 
different  auspices  to  the  trip  they  had  taken  to  Chicago 
only  a  few  months  heforc.  and  in  that  difference  lies  the 
meaning  of  America.  Then,  the  empty  wheat  car  at- 
tachetl  to  the  slow  freight,  a  few  dollars  in  the  pocket; 
now.  the  swift  Limited,  and  the  luxurious  Pullman,  with 
an  amount  of  money  that  seemed  inexhaustible.  To- 
morrow, what?  The  tardy  freight  again,  perhaps,  <>r  a 
special  train. 

Jim  quitted  the  palace  car  at  Selboum,  the  station  be- 
fore Stormboro,  there  to  be  in  tekgrapliic  communica- 
tion with  Hen;  to  engage  a  clergyman  in  an  emer- 
gency, if  necessary;  to  sec  after  a  license,  of  which  the 
knew  nothing,  and  in  the  event  of  all  else  failing,  to  ar- 
range for  a  marriage  before  a  justice.  Hen  continued  his 
journey  alone,  having  telegraphed  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fraser 
the  hour  at  which  he  would  call  upon  him. 

He  found  the  old  gentleman  waiting  for  him  in  his 
study,  and  in  the  ominous  coldness  of  his  reception  all 
Ben's  former  fear  of  the  professor  rose  again  within  him, 
and  he  felt  once  more  the  snubbed  boy  at  college,  as  those 
unsympathetic  eyes  gazed  steadily  and  unflinchingly  at 
him  over  the  steel-rimmed  spectacles.  There  was  a  mu- 
tual dislike  between  the  two  men,  which  the  elder  took 
little  pains  to  conceal.  Mr.  Fraser  waved  his  thin  white 
hand  towards  a  chair  that  stood  opposite  the  table  at 
which  he  sat,  and  McAllister  sat  down,  red  in  the  face, 
and  as  uncomfortable  as  a  man  may  well  be.  The  two- 
storied  cottage  was  as  silent  as  if  it  had  never  been  in- 
habited. The  professor  had  evidently  cleared  the  decks 
for  action. 

"  I  received  your  telegram,"  he  began,  "  but  I  may  say 
that  a  slight  conversation  I  previously  had  with  my 
daut^htcr  led  me  to  expect  a  visit,  and  gave  me  some  inti- 
mation of  its  purport." 

"  May  I  ask,  sir,  where  your  daughter  is  at  this  mo- 
ment?" 


i^j^^iT^^^r..  i-3i-i'-..»w«J^'. 


■  v--:^zMi_ 


"  Your  exposition  on  the  lioly  text "     343 


"  >'-  is  where  she  should  be,  attcndin}^  to  her  duties 
at  tht  school." 

"  I  have  come  from  New  \ Ork  to  ask  yr  ,ir  permission 
to  marry  her.  she  havinj^  already  given  her  consent." 

"Such  I  understood  to  he  your  intonticii.  I  formerly 
refused  my  assent  to  an  enjjflgement.  whicli  it  seems  you 
have  entered  into  without  my  concurri  rice.  Why  should 
I  lo!>k  favourably  upon  a  marriaj^e  when  I  could  not  sanc- 
tion a  betrothal?  " 

"  Because  circumstances  have  changed  since  then. 
There  may  have  been  some — some  excuse — some  under- 
stinding  of  your  disapproval  then,  because  T  was  jMH)r. 
vv'h  little  or  no  money,  and  apparently,  as  far  as  your 
judgment  went,  with  small  prospect  of  earning  any.  That 
no  longer  can  be  held  against  me.  I  have  now  more  than 
tiity  thousand  dollars  in  the  bank,  and  I  am  in  business 
partnership  with  my  old  eollege  friend,  who  has  as  nuich 
more." 

I  iitfle  to  do  with  my  objection  to 
.:■■•. ■!  I  find  that  the  statement  of 
•i*       but  small   impression  on  my 


"  Lack  of  money 
you  as  a  son  '    i.: 
the  sum  vou    i«;' 
mind." 

"  Perhaps  i;   ',  v; 
I  do  it  woulJ  ij    i. 
I'Vaser,  that  siv;  \x 
ing  and  trudge  o.! 
drudge  at  the  earnti 


V.'  ' 

■;re: 


much  for  your  daughter  as 
impression.  It  means,  Mr. 
1:  ./  *o  rise  early  every  morn- 
'  '•  •■;  amtry,  rain  or  shine,  and 
her  own  living." 
I  am  not  of  those  who  believe  idleness  a  blessing,  or 
the  earning  of  one's  own  living  derogatory  to  character. 
Holy  Scripture  enjoins  industry  upon  each  of  us,  and  my 
daughters  choice  of  an  occupation  is  entirely  her  own,  al- 
though I  may  say  that  it  meets  my  approbation  much 
more  than  does  her  inclination  for  you." 
"What  have  you  to  urge  against  me?" 
"  My  reading  of  your  character  leads  me  to  suppose 
that  it  is  an  essentially  light  and  frivolous  one.  I  think 
you  are  unstable,  flighty,  with  no  fixed  principles,  flitting 
airily  from  one  employment  to  another.  I  hear  that  since 
you  left  the  college  you  have  employed  whatever  educa- 
tion you  acquired  and  whatever  talents  you  possess,  first, 


fi- 


l»7Tri7TiiS5     Fj 


it'll 

111 


344 


The  Victors 


mi 


Jif! 


in  peddling  hke  a  vagabond  about  tbe  country;  then  in 
some  pohtica  partnership  with  some  disreputable  person ; 
next  I  hear  of  you  m  Chicago,  in  New  York,  in  Montreal 
m  one  of  the  southern  states.     All  this  corrol>orates  the 
opmion  I  had  formed  of  you." 

•'  Does  it  ever  occur  to  you  that  you  may  be  wrong 

judged,  eliminated  from  your  Bible?  " 

"My  dear  sir.  your  flippant  quotation  from  the  Bible 

Frasir  "^  ^^""^  """"*  ^^  ^  ^'"''''^  consolation  to  you,  Mr. 

"  But  while  we  leave  judgment  and  vengeance  to  the 
Lord,  we  are  nevertheless  enjoined  to  be  careful  of  the 
company  we  keep,  and  in  the  selecting  of  that  companv 

tTre  nn'  ^uV'^  ""V^^ "'7  ^^'"^'^^  "^^>-  ^^^"^  ^o  an  imma- 
ture and  ill-balanced  mind  hke  yours  to  resemble  those  of 
the  judge  Blessed  is  the  man  that  waiketh  not  in  the 
coimsel  of  the  wicked,  nor  standeth  in  the  way  of  sin- 

"Aye,  continue  the  quotation,  Mr.  I-Vaser ;  '  Nor  sitteth 
m  the  seat  of  the  scornful,'  where  you  have  now  so  self- 
nghteously  placed  yourself." 

"  You  pervert  the'  text,  sir,"  cried  the  reverend  gentle- 
man, speaking  for  the  first  fme  with  the  heat  of  con- 
mvcrsy.  •  Scornful  '  in  that  connection  means  scorn  of 
the   Almighty. 

"  That  is  a  matter  of  opinion.  It  may  be  that  in  scorn- 
ing the  least  of  his  creatures  you  are,  through  him,  scorn- 
ing that  creature  s  Creator." 

"  The  devil  quotes  Scripture  to  serve  his  own  pur- 
poses. ' 

]]  That,  sir  is  what  I  ha\e  been  endeavouring  to  imply  " 
If  you  thmk  there  is  anything  to  be  gained  by  com- 
ing to  browbeat  me  in  mv  own  bouse  vou  are  very  much 
mistaken      I  am  not  lo  be  frightened  from  the  path  of 
rectitude.  ^ 


"  Your  exposition  on  the  lioly  text "    345 

are  lookinR  at  ,im  serious  q ucstl  ,S  '  off  .''f  ^°" 
but  rcmotelv,  enfrelv  from  ,™,  "'^'-'^  J"" 

view.  You'r  dauKlMr  ™l  ,3f  "  T'""^'  P"'"'  "< 
will  suffer  if  a  mbtake  fs  madr  j""  ','"  ''"•™"''  >»■'"• 
preference  no  weS  wi^.Toll''  -  "'''  ""="'  •™"'-  '^''"'''^ 

er^cl'i^^^a^^dr^'ifrea^enr  fi'"'  "''■  "r«"'^'"  "-'" 
two  vastly  differem  t,Ws  1  nn,,™?  ,''"'■''■•■  "'=>•  ""= 
dence  as  Lr  counsel b  "a,  ,1  iar  li'aM,""^'  '"''"""- 

i|^™.Xst-«c;s£S™liS.F'^- 

We  are  both  of  the  same  mind,  and  I  come  to  vo,. 
now  w,th  that  proof.     Why  then  shoul.l  „  .  "Tt  >    tZ 

a"ppoi3'til"-'.^  "■°™"-  -•-  "-  '^-"  '^^r;-ow  ilt! 

tbougS  'r^er^e^^e^'N'ow"'";.-™"  ^"""'''  "^^  -* 
salvation ;  n«  for  marriage  ■■  '■'  ""=  """■■"'"'  '''™  '"' 

holy  law.''      •™"  ""' '"  ""  "">'  °f  ""■■  '"'«'"'-«  "f  tlKU 

ter"  ^hJ'  "°' >'«/""•  "if<^.  but  She  is  still  my  daugh- 
ter.    Honour  thy  father  and  thy  mother:  ol«v  those  set 

Iha'n"  I  r^."""'  i"'"'  "'  "'""™""'»  not  les^Uitltiv 
tnan  the  one  you  have  misquoted." 

"  I  have  not  misquoted  the  spirit  of  the  text      lint  to 

unTv  h  '''  ^T'^'^'r-'-  I  say  I  am  n^w  re  dv  to 
supply  the  proof  you  demand  five  years  hence  I  nve 
been  d.hcrent  m  business.  There  is  denosifpd  ;«  ,  .  T 
m  New  York  fifty-two  thousand  dollLr that' t;e",oUr  to 


r! 


346 


The  Victors 


me.  They  arc  paying  me  four  per  cent,  on  that  deposit, 
which,  if  I  did  nothing  else  with  the  principal,  would 
give  me  an  annual  income  of  over  two  thousand  dollars 
a  year,  a  sum  in  excess  of  any  yearly  income  you  have  ever 
succeeded  in  acquiring  with  all  your  boasted  experience. 
You  are  talking  to  me  as  if  you  were  an  experienced  man 
reprimanding  a  shiftless  boy,  lecturing  me  as  a  conceited 
teacher  lectures  a  despised  pupil.  I  want  you  'o  under- 
stand, sir,  that  this  is  not  a  case  of  a  man  talking  to  a 
boy  but  of  a  fifty-thousand  dollar  man  talking  to  an  in- 
dividual worth  three  thousand  dollars  at  the  utmost." 

"  There  speaks  the  arrogance  of  youth,  with  the  letter 
of  the  law  on  liis  lips  and  the  spirit  of  the  law  absent 
from  his  hean.  That  is  the  lan,;^uage  of  a  moncy- 
mj.king,  money-loving  age,  weighing  worth  in  the  scale 
witii  dollars.  I  shall  take  you,  sir,  on  your  own  low 
ground,  on  the  mean  commercial  basis  you  i-.ave  chosen. 
You  say  you  have  acquired  this  money  since  vou  left 
college.     How  has  it  been  acquired  ?  " 

"  Honestly." 

"  That  is  a  point  I  am  anxious  to  determine.  T  ask 
you  for  the  particulars  of  the  transaction,  or  scries  of 
transactions,  by  which  so  much  money  was  accumulated 
in  so  short  a  time." 

"  I  sold  to  a  man  who  wished  to  buy  and  was  willing 
to  pay  my  price,  a  property  which  I  had  previously  ac- 
quired from  another  who  was  equally  anxious  to  sell." 

"In   what  did   this   property   consist?" 

"  It  was  a  railway  franchise." 

"  How  much  did  you  pay  for  it  ?  " 

"  I  paid  one  thousand  dollars  for  it.  money  honestly 
earned  and  saved  by  my  partner  and  myself  through  en- 
gineering work  on  a  proposed  line  of  railway." 

"  For  how  much  did  you  sell  this  franchise?  " 

"  For  one  hundred  and  five  thousand  ''ollars." 

"  Whom  then  did  you  cheat;  the  seller  or  ihe  buyer?  " 

"  Neither.  The  selling  price  was  fixed  by  the  seller 
himself ;  the  buying  price  was  fixed  by  the  purchaser." 

"  Did  you  know  at  the  time  you  bought  that  you  would 
be  able  to  sell  at  so  greatly  enhanced  a  price?  " 


"Your  exposition  on  the  holy  text"    347 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  As  an  honest  man,  you,  of  course,  told  tfie  person 
from  whom  you  bought,  the  price  at  whxh  you  were  to 
resell? " 

"  Certainly  not.  It  was  none  of  his  business." 
"  Then  you  deliberately,  I  won't  say  purchased  from, 
but  overreached  a  man  at  the  rate  of  less  :han  a  cent  on 
the  dollar,  and  so  came  into  possession  of  an  article  re- 
garding: the  true  value  of  which  he  was  un  ler  a  delusion  ; 
came  into  the  possession  of  it  as  a  fence  comes  into  the 
possession  of  purloined  goods  ?  " 

"  I  bought  at  the  price  he  asked ;  to  do  as  you  suggest 
would  be  to  put  an  end  to  all  commercial  transac- 
tions." 

The  old  man  rose  slowly  to  his  feet,  and  McAllister 
recognised  in  his  steely  eyes  the  look  of  stern  condemna- 
tion undtr  which  he  had  so  often  quailed  in  college. 

"  I  ask  you,  sir,  to  leave  my  houses  and  never  again 
to  enter  it.  I  withdraw  the  probation  term  of  five  years 
that  I  offered  while  I  was  still  under  some  misapprehen- 
sion regarding  your  character.  I  ask  you  not  to  com 
municate  with  me  again,  unless  to  inform  me  that  you 
have  restored  every  penny  of  that  money  to  the  man  you 
so  shamefully  cheated." 

McAllister  rose  also,  his  face  white  and  his  lips  trem- 
bling. "  Then,  sir,  you  not  only  judge,  but  you  con- 
demn and  punish." 

"  God  condemns  and  punishes  all  such  chicanery  as  you 
have  just  confessed  to  me." 

The  young  man  replied  with  a  calnmess  that'  was 
plainly  enforced ;  the  reply  of  a  man  resolved  not  to  be 
angered.  "  We  seem  to  have  reached  a  deadlock,  Mr. 
Frascr.  T  am  very  sorry,  and  any  unwarranted  remark 
of  mine  that  has  helped  to  bring  it  about  T  unhesitatingly 
withdraw  and  apologise  for.  May  I  suggest  that  we  call 
Mrs.  Fraser  to  this  conference,  and  listen  to  what  she  may 
have  to  say  ?  " 

"  There  is  no  conference ;  it  is  ended." 

"  Mrs.  Fraser  has  quite  as  much  interest  in  the  welfare 
of  her  daughter  as  yoti  c.^n  have,  and  ought  to  be  allowed 


348 


The  Victors 


ifcgfc 


,.[ 


a  voice  in  a  crisis  which  so  seriously  affects  that  wel- 
fare." 

"  I  am  the  head  of  my  household,  and  whoever  proposes 
to  deal  with  it  must  deal  through  me." 
"  Very  well,  sir." 

■Mc.Mlister  took  up  the  hat  he  had  la'd  down  on  enter- 
m^:,  and  left  the  room  and  the  house.     There  was  in  his 
face  the  expression  of  a  man  temporarily  defeated  l)ut  far 
from  haffled.     He  went  direct  to  the  nearest  livery  stable, 
and  there  hired  a  horse  and  covered  buj^^gy.     With  this  he 
drove  the  two  miles  and  a  half  over  sandy  roads  that  lay 
between  Stormboro  and  the  schoolhouse  where  Constance 
Fraser  taught.     Tliat   lovely  autumn  afternoon   the   fa- 
miliar building  lay  embowered  in  splendour.    The  woods 
which  framed  it  were  brilliant  in  their  tints  of  scarlet, 
gold  and  russei,  but  Den  had  no  eye  for  their  beauty.     He 
tied  the  horse  to  the  rail  fence  by  the  side  of  the  road,  and, 
going  to  the  oy)en  door,  knocked  at  the  lintel  to  announce 
his  coming.     The  educational   murmur  at  once  ceased; 
the  teacher  rose  at  her  desk,  crimsoning  like  forest  foli- 
age.    McAllister  walked  u])  the  aisle  and  shook  hands 
with  her,  realising  now,  when  it  was  too  late,  that  he 
should   have   restrained   bis   ini|.'aticnce   until   the  pupds 
bad  been  dismissed.     However,  there  was  no    'hance  of 
retreat,  .so  he  took  the  chair  designated  by  the  mistress 
of  ceremonies,   facing  some   dozens  of  eager  lx)ys   and 
girls,  who  looked  upon  him  as  the  usual  school  visitor, 
and  were  ready  to  conjugate  for  him  the  verb  "  to  love  " 
if  be  des  red  to  have  them  do  so. 

'■  Senior  class  in  arithmetic  come  forward."  said  the 
teacher,  with  =uch  calnniess  as  she  could  hastily  summon 
to  her  assistance.  In  the  nf)ise  of  the  shuffling  feet  and 
the  ringing  of  slates  that  ensued  lien  wliis]>erc'd  to  her: 

"  Constance,  dismiss  the  school  as  soon  as  you  can.  I 
have  something  very  hnportant  to  say  to  you." 

"  That  is  impossible.  Why  didn't  you  wait  till  four 
o'clock,  or  send  me  word  that  you  were  coming?  You 
mu.st  hear  the  classes  now.  Ch  Idren,"  she  continued, 
addressing  the  assembled  class,  "  this  gentleman  has  come 
to  visit  us.  hoping  y(Mi  have  been  getting  on  well  with 


"Your  exposition  on  the  holy  text"    349 

your  studies.     He  will  set  some  problems  to  you   and  I 
hope  you  can  give  him  correct  answers." 

With  this  she  sat  down  at  her  desk,  assuming  the  air 
o  one  who  washea  her  1  ands  of  all  further  rcsponsibilitv. 
McAllister  faced  the  expectant  ycnni  ^stcrs,  with  an  un- 
easy smile  on  his  lips;  still,  he  was  too  rccentlv  removed 
from  scholastic  thrallment  himself  to  be  entirely  non- 
plussed by  the  situation  which  confronted  him 
..n'l  Tn"  ^"  '^^'^^^  York,"  he  began,  "  has  futv-two  thou- 
sand^ dollars    in  the    bank,  drawing    four   per  cent,    in- 

There  was  a  quick  rattle  of  pencil  on  slate  as  thc^e  in- 
^rest.ng  particulars  were  jotted  down.  •'  Ho.v  much 
will  he  have  to  add  to  the  sum  now  in  the  bank  to  nvake 
h.s  income  equal  to  his  present  principal?  " 

"  Tliafs  too  hard."  complained  the  youngster  at  the 
toot  of  the  class,  unused  to  interest  problems  in  exactly 
this  form.  ^ 

^^  "  Oh,  no,  it  isn't."  replied  the  amateur  school  inspector- 
at  least  It  isn't  so  difficult  as  the  task  which  confront; 
the  xNew  York  man  I  speak  of.  It  ought  to  be  easier  to 
hgure  up  how  much  money  is  required  than  to  make  that 
money  and  put  it  into  the  bank." 

The  hand  of  the  clock  had  already  passed  the  hour  of 
four  when  the  arithmetic  class  returned  from  the  front 
l^ke  a  victorious  army,  and  took  its  place  in  the  body  of 
the  community,  but  the  teacher  with  a  relentlessness  "that 
reminded  the  unfortunate  visitor  of  her  father,  called  up 
class  after  class,  saying  that  it  was  not  often  thev  had 
the  p.easure  of  receiving  a  visitor  competent  to  exam- 
ine them.     At  last,  however,  school  was  dismissed,  the 
pupils    disappeared   in   their   several   directions  and   the 
tired,  ui.patient  man  turned  a  reproachful  glance  upon  his 
persecutor,  who  laughed  at  h's  discomfiture. 
••  I  hope  you  are  satisfied,  Connie,"  he  said. 
"  1  shall  be,  when  you  write  a  commending  notice  of 
your  inspection  in  our  vis'tor's  book." 

"Oh,  you  have  a  visitor's  book?     N"o,  mv  autograph 
shall  never  ornament  it.     P.ut  reallv.  Constance,  the  nosi-  ' 
tion  is  very  scr  ous.     I  had  a  terrible  interview  with  your 


ii;-| 


350 


The  Victors 


I 


n 


father  this  afternoon,  and  he  practically  ordered  me  out 
of  the  house,  commanding  me  never  agam  to  attempt  com- 
munication with  any  member  of  his  family.  So  you  see, 
my  darling,  the  last  word  has  to  be  said  by  you." 

"The  last  word?"  echoed  the  girl,  whitening  a  little 
at  the  lips. 

"  Constance,  I  am  now  in  a  position  to  marry.  The 
money  I  possess,  even  at  the  rate  of  interest  the  bank 
allows,  will  give  us  an  income  of  more  than  two  thousand 
dollars  a  year,  while  at  the  rates  going  out  west,  with 
perfectly  good  security,  we  could  get  double  that,  or  more  ; 
yet  I  realise  that  this  is  only  the  beginning  of  the  fi:,dit, 
fur  I  am  determ'hcd  to  found  some  large  business,  and 
in  this  coming  struggle  I  want  you  by  my  side.  What  is 
the  use  of  my  working  away  in  New  York  all  alone,  and 
you  toiling  here  in  Illinois  for  a  mere  pittance?  Is  it 
unreasonable  that  I  wish  the  girl  who  has  promised  to 
marry  me  to  keep  her  promise,  now  that  I  am  able,  finan- 
cially, to  satisfy  the  most  exacting  of  parents  ?  " 

*'  Xo,  Ben,  it  is  not  unreasonable.  What  did  father 
say?" 

"Say!  What  didn't  he  say?  It  isn't  any  use  going 
over  that.  He  is  prejudiced  against  me,  and  always  will 
be.  I  resolved,  for  your  sake,  to  keep  my  temper  while  I 
talked  with  him,  and  I  think  I  succeeded  as  well  as  could 
be  expected.  At  first  ho  proposed  that  I  should  come  to 
him  five  years  from  now.  but  he  afterward  withdrew  that, 
and  told  me  to  go." 

"  Wliy  ?  " 

"  Because  the  more  he  knew  of  me  the  less  he  approved 
of  me.  But  I  don't  want  to  say  anything  about  the  mis- 
erable interview.     I  want  to  forget  it." 

"  Did  you  see  mother?  ' 

"  No.  The  house  seemed  to  be  empty.  I  asked  to  see 
her — to  have  her  join  our  conference — but  he  would  not 
allow  it.  He  was  master  in  his  own  house,  he  said,  or 
words  to  that  effect." 

The  girl  had  been  listening,'  pensively.  Ikt  cheek  resting 
on  hor  open  hand,  her  elbow  oti  tb.e  desk  lid.  Now  she 
straightened  herself  up,  and  her  lips  tightened. 


"Your  exposition  on  the  holy  text"    351 

"  ^^^\  d°  yo"  want  me  to  do,  Ben  ?  -  she  asked  quietly 
Connie,  dear.  I  want  you  to  conie  witli  me  now      I 
have  a  buffgy  outside,  and  we  can  drive  on  to  SeUwurn 
where    we    wdl    get    married.     Jim  is  waiting    for    us 

"  Monro?     Why.  what  has  he  to  do  with  it'  ' 
Well  you  sec.  my  dear.  1  asked  him  to  come  on  west 
with  me  from  New  York.     If  we  had  been  married  from 
your  home,  as  I  hoped,  Jim  would  have  been  best  man 
You  don  t  object  to  Jim,  do  vou.  Connie?" 
^^      A  0-0-0. '  she  replied  in  rather  an  unconvincinjr  tone 
I.ut  I  cannot  go  with  you  now,  Ben.     I  must  see  my 
motlier  hrst.     I  must  go  home  once  more." 

"  My  dear  girl,  believe  me.  it  won't  do  the  least  good 
to  see  anyone  till  we  are  married.  If  vou  make  a  confi- 
dante of  your  mother  she  will  never  consent.  She  would 
undoubtedly  tell  your  father,  and  then  he  would  prevent 
you  going  off  with  me.  I  know  vou  hate  this  sort  of 
thing ;  so  do  I,  but  I  recognise  there  is  no  help  for  it  • 
none  at  all.  I  assure  you." 

"  I  must  go  home  oncx^  more."  repeated  the  girl  with 
quivering  lips.  "  I  cannot  have  mother  watching  anx- 
iously for  me.  as  perhaps  she  is  doing  now.  I  must  put 
my  arms  round  her  once  more,  even  if  I  .av  nothing  of 
what  I  intend  to  do."  '  *^ 

^  "  But  you  will  be  sure  to  tell  her  if  vou  return.  Connie 
Come  vyith  me  now.  We  can  drive  right  back  from  Sel- 
bourn. 

'*  Xo,  I  must  go  home  first." 

"If  you  do.  Connie,  it's  all  up  with  me.  and  1  mav  as 
well  take  the  first  train  to  New  York.  If  vou  tiiink  of 
making  any  appeal  to  your  father.  1  assure  vou  it  is  (.uite 
useless.  You  do  not  understand  at  what  a  deadlock  we 
arrived."' 

"Listen  to  me.  Ben.  I  shall  go  home  at  once  and  have 
a  talk  with  mother,  but  will  sav  notliin-  about  going  away 
with  you.  deceitful  daughter  that  I  am.  Tn  truth,  if  my 
father  should  make  objection  to  our  marriage  on  the 
ground  that  T  am  not  g(xid  cnougii  for  you,  that  I  am 
deceitful  and  desi)cratcly  wicked,  there  would  be  more 


352 


The  Victors 


reason  in  his  attitude  than  I  can  find  in  it  now.  I  shall 
also  tell  my  father  that  I  am  determined  to  marry  you. 
If  I  find  the  situation  as  hopeless  as  you  imagine  it  to  be, 
then,  Ben,  come  for  me  with  your  buggy  at  midnight,  and 
I  will  go  with  you.  You  see  how  much  worse  my  propo- 
sition is  than  your  own,  for  now  we  should  at  least  go 
away  in  broad  daylight,  so  my  present  unfilial  resolution 
ought  to  be  a  warning  to  you.  O  dear,  O  dear,  how 
can  I  speak  so  flippantly  about  so  serious  an  action? 
But  really,  Ben,  I  am  not  feeliriT  at  all  flippant.  My 
heart  is  sore  that  I  must  do  such  a  thing,  and  Len.  dear 
Ben,  you  must  see  that  I  love  you  better  than  all  the 
world  beside !  "  ' 

"  O  you  sweet,  darling  girl,  to  say  so.  May  I  ever 
prove  worthy  of  your  love.  I  will;  I  will;  if  I  accom- 
plish nothing  else  in  the  world." 

He  put  his  arms  round  her  and  kissed  her,  while  she 
cried  just  a  little,  and  scolded  herself  for  doing  it,  say- 
ing that  in  truth  she  was  the  happiest  girl  at  that  moment 
in  all  the  wide  world. 


I 

I 


^M 


%i!^^^fl^*e  ■-; 


^^^^^ 


■i^-\^    L^?^«K^^;:^JJSfti 


i?.  \^ 


C  H  A  P  T  E  R    V 


WHF.X   DID  vol-   I,()SF.  YOCU  nAtCIITI-K  ?  " 

TiFK  bdls  in  the  tower  of  the  colkfre  were  chiminj; 
twelve  when  McAllister  drove  slowlv  aloni;  the  side  of 
the  street  opposite  the  dark  house  'n  which  Profess,  ir 
Tras.  r  livLd.  He  had  been  warned  not  to  arrive  there  be- 
fore midnipht.  as  his  loitering  might  attract  the  attention 
of  passing  wayfarers,  or  an  inquisitive  policeman,  so  P.cn 
had  winled  away  the  slow-footed  hours  bv  allowing  Mie 
horse  to  take  its  own  way  through  the  sulnirhs.  and  thus 
he  made  the  murky  acquaintance  of  the  omlving  town 
with  a  horoughness  that  had  been  al,sent  even  from  his 
collegiate  days.  Now  the  hour  and  the  man  were  at  the 
appcMiited  p  ace.  and  the  man.  keeping  otUside  the  radius 
of  the  gas  lamp  at  the  corner,  watched  the  door  of  the 
two-storied  cottage  with  eager  anxiety. 

It  w'as  perhaps  a  quarter  after  tin-  hour  wl  en  the  door 
opened  and  closed  without  sound,  leaving  the  girl  stand- 
ing hesitating  on  the  stoop.  She  had  a  small  satchel  in 
her  hand,  wlixh  showe<l  :!  .  :.!i  ..Torts  towards  a  recon- 
ciliation with  her  fati„r  had  hcei:  unavailing,  and  the 
young  man  s  heart  beat  !  i;,].  ,s  .,c  saw  this  t.'.ken  of  her 
abandonment  of  home.  It  ha.l  -,cn  arr.'uged  that  if  her 
father  had  given  even  a  re'  -ctant  con,-.  .,t,  meeting-  a  de- 
termination equal  to  his  ou  ,,  .1-^  ,y  uV  steal  >nit  and 
let  her  lover  know,  so  that  hr  mighi  ,.  '  uait  ■,  ..■lesslv. 
i\ow  the  httle  platform  with  its  two  stq,s  in  fron:  .,f  the 
closed  door  .seemed  to  hold  her  're-:  ixre  feet  -is  -t  she 
found  It  impossible  to  leave  irrcvocabi  -  ;!u-  threshold  ■.£ 
her  fathers  house.  Ben  drove  b^s  hor  ,  qiMPtly  across 
the  street  and  drew  up  his  vehicle  at  the  edcr,  (,;  .fic  board 
sidewalk.  The  girl  descended  the  steps  quicklv.  opened 
the  gate  and  stepped  silently  mto  the  buggy  beside  him. 


23 


353 


K~^^^ImVW^^. 


-■       'J- 

i 

f    Ik  Mi  - 

354 


The  Victors 


He  drove  off  without  a  word,  throuj?h  the  sleeping  town 
Unce  outside  the  city  limits,  with  tho  dark  country  hefore 
them,  he  attempted  to  put  his  arm  round  her,  but  she 
shrank  from  him,  shuddering. 

..  -1-'.?°"  ^'  *^°"  ^ '  "  ^^^  *>'^*1'*^^'  w"^h  a  sob  in  her  throat. 
This  IS  too  awful !  " 

"  It  was  the  only  thing  to  do,  Connie." 

"  Perhaps.  Perhaps  it  was  the  only  thing  to  do.  but 
I  should  have  told  my  mother.  It  is  an  inhuman  thing  to 
leave  her  like  this  without  a  word.  She,  at  least,  was 
not  to  blame." 

"  That.  too.  was  the  only  thing  to  do.  believe  me, 
Connie.  Had  y9u  told  her  your  father  would  certainly 
have  Ic.rnod  of  our  intentions,  and  he  would  have  stopped 
us  if  he  could.  We  will  send  her  word  the  instant  we 
are  married.  She  will  not  really  have  a  moments 
anxiety,  for  if  she  finds  you  missing  in  the  morning  she 
will  merely  :'..  ..k  you  have  risen  early  and  gone  out.  She 
knows,  of  course,  how  troubled  you  have  been  over  this." 
"I  should  have  tohl  her;  I  should  have  told  her!" 
wailed  the  girl,  evidently  as  near  the  verge  oi  hvsterics  as 
a  sensible  woman  can  be.  Hen  was  not  wise  enough  to 
keep  silence.  He  had  a  masculine  belief  in  the  advisa- 
bility of  convincing  the  brain  where  the  heart  ak)nc  was 
concerned,  and  he  thought  this  was  a  time  for  logic. 

"  If  you  had  told  her,  Connie,  it  would  simply  have 
meant  a  row  and  a  scandal  instead  of  this  quiet  departure. 
You  will  see  later  that  you  have  done  the  best — in  fact 
the  only  thing." 

"  Oh,  the  scandal  is  but  postponed,  to  break,  when  it 
comes,  on  her  lone  head.  Think  of  the  morning;  of  the 
grief,  of  the  publicity,  the  inevitable  publicity,  and  in- 
deed no  one  can  loathe  that  mure  than  my  father,  stub- 
born as  he  is.  I  am  entitled  to  what  every  girl  of  my 
acquaintance  has  nad,  or  will  have;  a  wedding  from  a 
father's  house,  amidst  friends  and  relatives,  respectable, 
as  it  should  be.  Instead  of  this.  I  steal  away  in  the 
night,  like  a  thief — " 

"But  Connie,  darling,  that  isn't  our  fault."  The 
|firl  went  on  without  heeding  hin?. 


"When  did  you  lose  your  daughter?"  355 


And  then  the  Rossip,  the  whispcrinjr,  the  shaking  of 

stance 
awav  witli 


w 


heads ;  the  nunil)er  of  people  who  always  kne.. 

Fraser  would   lo  something' of  this  sort.     Ran 

a  man  I     At  midnight !     Said  to  have  been  married,  and 

they  sincerely  hope  for  the  sake  of  the  parents  that  this 

IS  true.     1  he  doubt  expressed  in  nod  and  intonation.    t)h 

it  is  horrible,  horrible!  " 

"Dearest  Connie,  do  listen  to  reason.  What  arc  all 
those  people  to  us?  We  shall  not  live  amonR  them,  nor 
care  for  their  trivial  opinions,  good  or  bad.  They  arc  but 
a  minute,  infinitesimal  section  of  a  very  large  world,  and 
a  section  we  shall  have  nothing  to  do  with  in  the  future. 
A  year  from  now  you  won't  give  a  snap  of  your  fingers 
for  the  opinion  of  all  Stormboro,  and  will  wonder  that 
you  ever  had  a  moment's  uneasiness  about  it.  " 

"  Worst  of  all,  the  newspapers.  How  they  will  gloat 
oyer  it  and  put  great  headings  above  their  accounts  of  it! 
Elopement  of  a  Professor's  Daughter ! '  I  can  see  the 
words  before  me  now  in  the  dark.  '  A  College  Scandal ! ' 
Their  interviews  and  their  comments,  keeping  it  up  dav 
after  day." 

"  Dear  Connie,  that  won't  hurt  us,  even  if  it  should 
all  happen  just  as  you  say,  although  it  is  more  than  likely 
that  nobody  will  know  anything  about  it.  Why  should 
they?  Neither  your  father  nor  your  mother  will  say 
anything.  In  fact.  I  can  see  in  my  mind's  eve  a  line  in 
the  paper,  supposing  there  was  an  account.  '  '  The  pro- 
fessor rudely  repulses  our  reporter  and  orders  him  out 
of  the  house.'  " 

"  ( )  Ben,  how  can  you  speak  jestingly  about  what  is 
a  tragedy  to  me?  How  can  you  be  so  cruel  at  such  a 
moment  ?  ' 

Now  you  are  unjust.  Connie.  I'm  not  jesting  and 
I'm  not  cruel.  I'm  merely  trying  to  get  you  to  take  a 
common-sense  view  of  the  situation." 

"  Common  sense?  And  then  to  think  that  all  my  life, 
my  husband,  if  he  should  get  angry  with  me,  as  he  is'  now,' 
will  have  the  right  to  say  I  was  so  anxious  to  marry  him' 
that  I  proposed  running  away  with  him,  and  did  run  away 


MICROCOPY   RESOLUTION   TIST   CHART 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


1^  |2'8 

|5£     ^^ 

m 

■  »3 

m 

JT     §3A 

^     1^ 

i  2.0 

1.8 


js   .applied  iivmge 


1653   Eost   Main   Street 

Rochester,    New   York         14609       USA 

(716)   482  -  0300  -  Phone 

(716)    288-  5989  -  Fo« 


356 


Tlie  Victors 


If  you  ever  taunt  me  with  this, 


Ifli 


!!! 


with  him  at  midnig-ht ! 
Ben.  1  shall  leave  you. 

'■  O  my  dear,  clear  j,nrl,  you  take  the  wrong  point  of 
V  ew.  It  would  be  more  truthful  to  sav  that  I  was  so 
anxious  to  get  you  that  I  carried  vou  off  "in  spite  of  your- 
self, for  I  really  believe,  if  I  were  to  allow  it.  vou  would 
turn  back." 

"Of  course.  Hen.  you  thihk  I  am  sillv.  but  vou  don't 
understand  me." 

"  I  don't  th;nk  anything  of  the  kind.  Constance." 

"  r.ut  youVe  practically  said  so,  just  now.  and  I  sup- 
pose you  are  right,  for  I  never  could  have  consented  to 
an  escapade  like  this,  if  I  had  anv  wisdom." 

The  bewildered  young  man  now  kept  silent,  and  that 
at  the  wrong  Ume,  lie  should  have  contradicted  her,  but 
as  he  didn  t  she  took  her  worst  fear.;  as  provcr  and  wept 
sdently  beside  him.  They  were  now  approaching  the 
schoolhouse,  and  I!en  mentallv  wished  thev  were  safelv 
past  it. 

"  How  can  you  say  it  will  be  kept  quiet,  when  there  are 
the  school-children  who  will  assemble  to-morrow  morning 
and  wait  and  wait  for  the  teacher  who  never  comes  ?  The 
dear  little  children,  all  of  whom  loved  me.  and  whom  I 
love  with  all  my  heart  in  return.  AVho  is  to  tell  them 
they  are  not  to  think  or  speak  of  me  again  ?  I  see  some 
of  the  larger  girls  running  to  our  house,  fearing  I  am  ill 
and  then  what  is  my  poor,  distracted  mother  to  say  to 
them?  Ah,  what,  what?  Ren.  I  cannot,  cannot  do  it. 
Stop  the  horse,  Ben.  stop,  or  I  shall  jump  from  the 
buggy." 

They  were  now  directly  in  front  of  the  schoolhouse, 
concealed    in  the    darkness  1)v  the    overliangin'r  forest 
McAllister  pulled  up  the  horse  and  brought  the  vehicle  to 
a  standstill. 

"  There  is  no  need  to  threaten  to  do  th's  or  that.  Con- 
stance. I  am  here  to  help  you  get  out  of  the  buggy,  if 
that  is  your  wish,  or  to  do  anvthing  else  vou  mav  require 
of  me."  "  '  .        I 

"  Oh.  yes.  yes.  Ben ;  you  are  so  good  and  patient."  sa'd 
the  girl  repentantly.     "  I'm  sorry  I  am  so  foolish,  but 


"  When  did  you  lose  your  daugliter  ?  -  357 
don-y-c,  SCO  .ha.  wha.  we  proposed  is  wick.J  a„.l  i„,pos- 

Yes  dear  JJen.     Don't  be  harsh  with  ,nc   lic.i  " 
nevvspaper   S"l  t°[e  chattp/^f  •  °J^'"'°"«,  "^  sensational 

yo.,  has  '^Jt^^:t;  ""'•  "'"•; "-  *»'"-""  of 

you  from  mv  heart      Ts  I  "'y  """''■  ""^  ""=  '^e  of 

.0  wed  yor,vrfrhono,  4  ""if,,":;,' ,;.''°"'"  f  •™" 

surreptitiously,  like  a„  evildoer-  °'"^^"  ''">'•  ""' 

.his  o  :,"-dJv  rrriai"^  '-.T  [rit"™'"^^ '°  ^™«  =— 

S-ood-bve  to  me  half  nnl,         I        ■""'■  '"Mention  to  bid 

<.oor^a„dth™;.^|:^j;-t;;rr^i^?,":-.'«'--^ 
wu.},n;i;"U*rre'rri^ir..- 

It  IS  you  who  are  unkind   Constanrf.     T\,,  ^i  ■    • 
time  for  renroacho<;      Tf  ;.        ^^n^tancc      l,ut  this  is  no 

mo.^e,,a„ee.     Have  .vou  the  Ih^^liroSe  l^^Z 

whIrc'thf'nTf''  ■"""  *^'^  ^P-I^ivelv  in  the  re-non 
"  wi       '     t''  '"'^  supposed  to  ho. 

ini-     "'■r'l,\!7'f  "■  '■'^'-•'•■''™«'-  I'alf  laughing,  half  crv- 
'nff-        I  had  forgotten  a  I  ahont  if      t  U-    T.  .    - 

the  lock,  of  course  '•  ^  """'^  '^^^^  '^  in 


liili 


358 


The  Victors 


I 


"  Lock  yourself  in  the  schoolroom  for  an  hour,  Connie. 
You  will  be  quite  safe  there  until  I  return.  Are  you 
afraid  of  being  alone  in  the  dark,  dear  ?  " 

"  Oh,  no.  But  what  are  you  going  to  do,  Ben  ?  " 
"  I  shall  tell  you  when  I  come  back  victorious,  or  de- 
feated. Meanwhile,  you  think  quietly  over  the  situation, 
and  when  I  return  it  will  be  to  give  you  the  choice  of 
going  with  me  to  Sclbourn  or  taking  up  your  old  life  at 
Stormboro.  You  shall  decide  finally,  but  if  I  succeed, 
that  hard  decision  will  not  be  put  upon  vou,  so  pray  for 
my  success." 

"  I'll  do  whatever  you  say,  Ben,  and  God  be  with  you." 

She  sprang  lightly  from  the  buggy  before  he  could  as- 
sist her,  ran  to  the  schoolhouse,  and  Ben  hearing  the  door 
shut,  drove  off  tQ  Stormboro.  He  tied  the  horse  to  the 
maple  tree  in  front  of  the  professor's  house,  and  entered 
the  hall,  the  door  having  been  left  unfastened.  He  was 
about  to  knock  on  the  hall  table,  but  in  groping  for  it  a 
chair  fell  over  with  a  crash,  which  resounded  like  thun- 
der through  the  silent  house. 

''  Who's  there  ?  "  came  in  startled  tones  from  the  up- 
stairs ;  the  voice  of  the  professor.  Ben  cleared  his  throat 
as  he  heard  a  match  struck,  and  saw  the  flare  of  a  gas 
light  in  the  upper  hall. 

"Who's  there?     What  is  it?" 

"  Benjamin  McAllister,"  the  young  man  found  voice 
to  say. 

"What  are  you  doing  here,  sir?  Have  you  added 
house-breaking  to  your  many  avocations  ?  " 

The  old  man  appeared  at  the  top  of  the  stairway,  a 
dressing-gown  flung  round  him,  a  candle  in  his  hand, 
which  threw  into  relief  his  stern,  gaunt  face  and  strag- 
gling grey  hair.  Mrs.  Fraser  followed  him.  and  placed 
her  hand  on  his  arm. 

"  Do  not  speak  so  loudly,"  she  whispered,  fear  shin- 
ing from  eyes  red  from  weeping. 

"  Peace,  woman,''  said  the  professor  savagely,  shaking 
off  her  hand.  "  Peace,  that  we  may  learn  what  this  ras- 
cally night  prowler  has  to  say  in  defence  of  his  burglar- 
ious intrusion.    Now,  that  you  have  been  so  opportunely 


"When  did  you  lose  your  daughter?"  359 

fictor?  "'^'  ^°"'  ^'^  ^°"  ^''^^  ^"*°  ^his  house,  niale- 
"I   did  not   break  in;    I  came   in  by   the  01  en    donr 
hrou^h  which  your  daughter  escaped,  an  hour  ago     roTn 
under  your  tyrannous  roof."  ^  '        " 

McAlhster,  looking  up.  saw  a  grey  shadow  of  an£r.„\h 
s'^rryZ  ht;''  "^^"'  '''''  ^"^  '^  ^'^  first^^ti^'i^a^ 
"My  daughter!  Escaped!"  he  trasned  whilp  .h^ 
candlestick  visibly  trembled  in  his  ha^S'  Mr^  Fraser 
uttered  a  cry.  which  was  quickly  fallowed  by  a  sob  She 
ran  mstantly  to  her  daughter's  room  ^  ^ 

a^ron^.  ^omtance!  Constance!"  she  wailed  in  accents  of 
agony      say  say  that  it  is  not  true.     My  own  little  eirl 

irontecl  her.        O  John,  John,  she  is  not  here-  she  has 

wildly.     They  heard  her  throw  herself  on  the  tenantless 
bed,  moanmg  and  sobbing.  icnantiess 

a/t^h'^  ^'°"'  '^"  'P^'^^the  old  man.  his  voice  so  husky 
as  to  be  scarcely  recog  .-sable,  "have  you  come  to  this 

Se^e'cS '°  ^"'"    '  ^''  ''^  ^'^^--  «^  ^^  y- 

"  PardoK  me.  Mr.  Eraser.     You  are  the  cause.     I  have 

come  to  say  that  if  you  will  listen  to  reason  there  will  b- 

If  you  will  but  promise  that  we  niav  marry  from  this 
house  a  promise  she  pleads  for,  and  one  she  has  every 
right  to  expect.  ^ 

"  I  shall  rouse  the  police.  I  will  search  the  town  for 
ner.     V        shall  not  profit  by  your  knavery  " 

"  \.n.  .way  do  all  that,  Mr.  I-Vascr.  if  you  wish  to  be 
hooted  m  derision  from  the  city,  and  your  name  made  a 
byword  and  a  scandal  in  your  college.  If  you  in  your 
fo  y  do  as  you  threaten,  then  your  daughter  and  myself 
will  be  far  beyond  the  reach  of  you  and  your  police  I 
have  a  horse  and  buggy  at  the  door,  and  if  you  make 
a  move  m  the  direction  you  indicate  I  shall  be  oflf  before 
you  can  cry  out  to  the  empty  street.  No  one  but  myself 
knows  where  Constance  is  at  the  present  moment,  and 


36o 


The  VictOiS 


Bl 


\m 


\ 


she  will  Slay  there  unt  i  return  to  her.  Neither  you 
nor  all  the  police  in  Sturmburo  can  find  her,  unless  1  lead 
you  to  her  hiding  place." 

The  weeping,  distracted  mother  now  came  to  the  head 
of  the  stair,  -mploring  the  young  man  to  bring  her 
dautjhtor  back  to  her  home. 

"  1  merely  await  your  consent,  Mrs.  Fraser.  Indeed,  I 
am  most  reluctant  to  cause  you  the  slightest  distress,  and 
Constance  is  heartbroken  to  leave  you  in  this  way.  She 
is  eager  to  return,  if  she  may  have  the  birthright  which 
every  other  girl  receives  without  question ;  the  privilege 
of  marrying  the  man  of  her  choice  in  church,  or  in  her 
father's  house.  It  is  shameful  that  this  right  should  be 
denied  her  for  one  moment,  and  that  1  should  be  com- 
pelled to  sue  for  it." 

"  Yes,  Ben,  it  is  shameful,"  cried  Mrs.  Fraser,  whose 
exasperation  now  got  the  better  of  the  dread  of  her  hus- 
band. "  John,  Constance  shall  be  married  in  her  own 
home  as  I  was  married  from  my  father's  house." 

The  old  professor  leaned  against  the  wall  and  groaned. 
He  tried  to  rally  his  forces  and  said  with  a  feeble  attempt 
at  his  usual  manner. 

"  Silence,  woman.     I  will  not  be  coerced  by  a  trick." 

"  I  have  been  silent  too  long,  and  there  will  be  an  end 
of  sihnce  if  you  continue  your  stubbornness.  Is  Con- 
stance not  my  daughter  as  well  as  yours  ?  And  is  the 
happiness  of  both  to  be  sacrificed  because  you  are  dis- 
pleased ?  ■' 

The  silence  demanded  was  now  maintained  by  the  pro- 
fessor. 

"  I  am  waiting  for  yjur  answer,  sir,"  said  McAllister, 
but  the  old  man  made  no  reply. 

"  Come  with  me,"  coaxed  Mrs.  Fraser,  placing  her  hand 
on  her  husband's  arm.  "  Ben,  you  must  wait  for  me.  If 
he  does  not  consent  I  am  gon-;:^  in  the  buggy  with  you 
to  Constance.  She  shall  be  married  with  her  mother,  at 
lea.t.  beside  her." 

"  All  rght,  Mrs.  Fraser.  that  is  a  capital  idea ;  that  is 
all  Cnnstance  desires." 

Mrs.  Fraser  led  her  husband  away  unresisting.     He 


"When  did  yoj.  lose  your  daughter?  "  361 

seemed  dazed  In-  tlie  turn  thinirr,  had  taken.  I'.en  lit  the 
gas  in  the  hall  and  waited.  In  a  short  time  there  ap- 
peared at  the  top  of  the  stair  alone  his  future  mother-in- 
law,  for  whom  he  had  that  affeetion  which  most  men  hold 
for  their  mothers-in-law,  despite  the  parajjraphs  to  the 
contrary  in  the  liumourous  press. 

"  P.en,"  she  said,  "  go  and  fetch  Constance.  1  shall 
wait  up  till  your  return." 

"  But  does  he  consent?  "  urged  I5en,  who  did  not  relish 
the  chance  of  a  last  condition  tl.at  would  be  worse  than 
the  first. 

''  Yes;  you  may  take  my  word  for  it.  TJen." 

"  Rut  I  should  like  to  hear  him  say  so,"  persisted  the 
suspic'ous  young  man. 

"^  He  won't  say  so.     Don't  press  him.     Let  well  alone." 

"  He  tvill  say  so,"  cried  the  contrary  professor  from 
the  room  above.  "  He  is  not  ashamed'  to  put  in  words 
whatever  conclusion  is  forced  upon  him.  You  shall  be 
married  from  this  house,  but  vou  will  not  receive  my 
blessing  on  a  union  which  has  'its  origin  in  a  breach  of 
the  commandment.  The  dav  will  come  when  she  will 
desert  her  husband  as  she  now  deserts  her  father  " 

Ren  was  about  to  reply  ^hat  the  blessing  was  a  boon 
they  could  doubtless  dispense  with,  but  Mrs  Fra.ser  ar- 
nvmg  by  intuition  at  the  threatened  rejoinder,  held  up  her 
t.nger  m  admonition,  and  Ren  simply  said: 

"  I  thank  you,  sir." 

Mrs.  Fraser  ran  down  the  stairs  and  silcntlv  threw  her 
arms  round  the  young  man's  neck. 

^^  "  O  Ren,  Ren,"  she  whispered  with  tremulous  voic?, 
"  you'll  be  good  to  my  darling,  you'll  be  good  to  her! 
won't  you  ?  ■' 

Ren  kissed  her  and  found  difficulty  in  bracing  his  un- 
steady voice  to  reply : 

"  If  I  am  not,  mother,  may  God  deal  his  harshest  with 
n:e." 


1 

? 

, 

*• 

1 

, 

1 

1 

1 

1 

: 

* 

11 

1 

1 

li 

9 

i 

11 

^    1 

CHAPTER  VI 

"  GIVE  ME  LEAVE  TO  PROVE  VOU   A  FOOL  " 

"  Dear  Jim  : 

"What  are  you  fooling  away  your  time  in  Scl- 
boum  for?  It's  a  town  of  no  interest  or  importance. 
Come  at  once  to  Stonnboro,  which  is  an  educational 
centre  and  a  city  of  delight.  What  put  an  elopement 
into  your  head  ?  Certainly  net  \  We  are  to  be  married 
at  her  father's  house  day  after  to-morrow  (T,  jrsday) 
by  the  Reverend  Dean  of  the  Faculty  himself.  Professor 
Fraser  assisting.  You've  mooned  round  Selbourn  so  much 
alone  that  you  have  imbibed  erroneous  notions  of  things. 
I  confess  it  isn't  very  complimentary  that  you  should  im- 
agine all  sorts  of  objections  to  me  as  a  son-in-law.  I  told 
you  in  North  Carolina  there  would  be  no  trouble.  Con- 
sent? Of  course  everybody  consents.  Whv  shouldn't 
they?  The  idea  of  a  justice  of  the  peace!  What  a  fer- 
tile imagination  you  have,  Jimmy.  Connie  never  wou'd 
agree  to  be  married  before  a  justice,  and,  for  that  matter, 
neither  should  I ;  my  future  father-in-law,  the  professor, 
would  have  been  aghast  at  such  a  suggestion.  I  am  sure. 
Come  on  to  Stormboro  at  once,  Jimmy ;  there's  to  be  two 
stunningly  pretty  bridesmaids.    Fll  meet  you  at  the  10.15. 

"  Ever  yours, 

"  Ben." 
362 


CHAPTER    VII 
"fortune's  furious  fickle  wheel" 

rcJ'arclcHrJ^'  "^"H^^^'-y. "'"'"?:  to  New  York  could  be 
regarded  as  a  wedding  journey,  the  McAllisters  newlv 
marr  ed.  had  none.  Ben  was.  above  all  things,  p  actical 
and  he  was  not  gomg  to  begin  an  untried  phase ^.f  ex  't- 
ence  by  mak:ng  any  niistakes.  The  ceremony,  which 
^  he  romantic  mmd  of  the  g.rl.  had  sealed  "t;  be  the 
most  ,m,>ortant  event  in  her  life,  was  t..  him  but  an 
inevitable  epsode.  happily  done  with,  and  nov.  the  r 
career  together  began. 

On  the  night  of  the   relinquished  elopement  he  had 

pronused  Mrs.  Fraser  that  he  would  be  a  good  husba,'d 

o  her  daughter,  and  this  pledge  was  in  line^vith  iX  own 

long-held,    well-thought-out    intention.      He    would   not 

woHd      &-^°°'!  ''"/'''"^';  ''"^  ^'^^^  '^"^  '"'^band  in  the 
vvor Id.     H.s  rule  of  conduct  was  alreadv  clear  to  him. 
No  harsh  word  would  ever  be  spoken  to  l.is  wife.     His 
ife  would  oe  devoted  to  her  service;  she  would  vet  be 
the  richest  woman   in   New  York.     Never  should   she 
know  the  uncertainty  of  a  hand-to-mouth   subsistence. 
Len  himself  had  been  so  poor  in  worldlv  goods  that  the 
possession   of  unlimited  means  appeared  the  most  de- 
sirable tly.ng  ,n  the  world,  a  condition  to  be  striven  for 
with  al   the  energy  at  one's  disposal,  and  he  had  a  text  to 
quote  from  Scripture  giving  to  the  scheme  the  strong 
support  of  bibhcal  sanction,  '•  Whatsoever  thv  hand  find- 
cth  to  do.  do  It  with  thy  might."     Happiness  was  thus 
foreshadowed  for  Constance  McAllister,  who  was  now 
in  possession  of  a  husband  determined  to  acbievo    the 
truit  of  tnat  achievement  hers,  and  hers  alone.  His  de- 
votion was  dominated  by  all  the  enthusiasm  of  an  ancient 

i6s 


I. 
I 


3^>4 


Th'-'  Victors 


kn'ght  for  his  lady,  but  with  the  nonsense  eliminated. 
He  was  the  enilKxhnicnt  of  nineteenth  century  chivalry, 
eminently  rational. 

Monro  was  at  the  station  to  sec  them  off  fur  New 
York,  wishing;  them  a  safe  and  pleasant  journey. 

"Hut  aren't  you  cominjf  with  us?"  cried  Ben  in 
ar   /enicnt. 

"Nj.  I'm  Roinjj;  to  Chicago,"  replied  Jim.     "I  want 
to  spend  a  day  or  two  there.     Then  I'll  take  the  Lin 
ited  to  New  York." 

"  Nonsense,"  said  Ben  emphatically.  This  was  the 
first  he  had  heard  of  such  an  aosurd  proposal.  "  You 
have  nothing  to  do  in  Chicaj;  .  I  .vant  to  talk  with  you 
over  our  plans." 

"  Oh,  tiicre  will  be  time  enough  for  that, '  rejoined  his 
friend,  with  eyes  on  the  gi  jund.  "  I  expet  t  to  pick  up 
some  hints  in  Chicago  that  may  be  useful  to  us." 

"  Chicago ! "  ejaculated  Ben  with  groat  contempt. 
"  What  can  Chicago  teach  us  ?  Look  at  the  difTerci  ce 
in  population.  New  \ork's  tht  spot.  Come  aiong.  Jim. 
Why,  think  of  the  time  we'll  have  on  the  cars  together. 
Wc  can  plan  enough  between  here  and  New  York  to — 
Of  course  youll  come.  Connie,  tell  him  we  want  him 
with  us." 

Constance  was  smiling  faintly  and  looking  at  Jim, 
who  did  not  meet  her  gaze.  She  joined  in  her  husband's 
invitation,  but  with  exceeding  mildness.  Ben  glanced  from 
one  to  the  other  in  bewildermen*.  He  could  not  under- 
stand Jim's  quietly  stubborn  resolve,  nor  Connie's  lack  of 
cordiality.  It  was  the  most  natural  thin^f  in  the  world  for 
Monro  to  accompany  them ;  ihere  were  innumerable  busi- 
ness points  to  be  settled — important  aflfairs  that  had  been 
already  thrust  too  completely  in  the  background  by  the 
excitement  preceding  the  weddin*;.  But  now  the  mar- 
riage ceremony  was  o\  er  and  done  with.  It  belonged  to 
the  past.  This  was  the  time  to  discuss  the  future;  all 
three  equally  interested.  Aud  here  was  a  heaven-sent 
opportunity,  the  long,  long  pilgrimage  to  New  York, 
with  absolutely  nothing  else  to  do  but  talk  business. 


fil 


"  Foitunc's  furious  fickle  wheel  "       365 

"  Come,   you   two."   coniniandcd    Monro.     "  (let    your 
scats  or  youll  miss  tl.c  trai.i.     IVe  seen  to  the-  buLvap-e 
I  K'lvt'  you  the  checks,  (hdut  I.  Hen?  '• 
"  V'cs,  yes.  but  look  here—" 

"Cood-byc.    lien,     (.ood-bvc,    Mrs.   McAllister.     Docs 
the  name  sound  unfamiliar?     V  .u'll  s.)on  Ret  used  to  it 
See  you    later,    both  of    yuu."     Jim    shook  han.is    an(i 
turned  away.     He  did  not  ^^o  to  Chica^'o,  but  took  the 
tvemn.i,'  tram  for  New  York. 

Mc.Mlister  won.lered  what  was  wronp  with  Monro. 
Purely  he  did  not  think  that  marriaj^c  was  to  make  anv 
difference  m  dieir  close  comradeship.  That  would  be  too 
absurd.  J:m  himself  mi^dit  niarrv  before  lon^'.  and  their 
wives  would  be  ^reat  friends.  As  the  train  sped  alonjj 
15cn  unfolded  his  ambitions  to  Constance,  re-rettintr 
Jims  absence  now  and  then,  for  numerous  problems  pre- 
sented themselves  that  would  have  been  the  better  for 
Monro  s  calm  common  sense  directed  upon  them  AH 
this  was.  of  course,  exceedingly  interesting  to  Mrs. 
IMc.Ailistcr.  I,en"s  enthusiasm  was  infectious,  but  pres- 
ently she  began  to  gaze  wisifully  from  the  car  window 
listening,  nevertheless.  The  scenerv  was  not  attractive' 
a  flat  country  wiJi  villages  pnd  towns  very  like  one  an- 
other ;  but  It  was  the  kind  of  prospec  t  to  which  she  had 
been  accustomed  all  her  life. 

When  New  York  was  reached  she  could  not  tell 
whether  she  liked  it  or  not.  The  roar  and  bustle  dazed 
her.  It  seemed  to  inspire  P.en.  who  glowed  in  eulogy  of 
t.ie  place.  I  o  :vm  the  commotion  was  the  tumult  of  bat- 
tle, into  which  he  was  eager  to  plunge,  confident  that  he 
wo'jld  emerge  a  Napoleon. 

':^heir  abiding  place  was  the  "  Arundel."  on  Madison 
Avenue  partly  a  boarding-house,  partly  a  private  hotel 
but  v.-!thout  the  appearance  of  a  place  of  public  entertain- 
ment. There  was  no  si  aboard  abuve  the  door,  and 
nothing  to  indicate  that  it  was  not  an  ordinarv  dwelline 
It  was  six  storif  s  high,  with  a  pi  In  front  of  dark  brown 
s  one.  A  flight  of  steps  led  up  to  the  fmnt  door,  with 
all  the  seeming  of  an  entrance  to  a  pri/ate  mansion 


111.     > 


366 


The  Victors 


w'ticli,  indi'i'd,  tlic  liniise  originally  had  hcin.  The 
|)rcniiscs  adjoininj;  iKluniji-d  aUo  to  the  Anmdcl,  with 
doorways  cut  between  on  each  hu'din^'.  There  was  a 
bo^us  air  of  personal  occupajicy  about  ilie  place,  and  a 
hint  of  home  comfort,  a  surreptitious  pretense  that  a 
boarder  was  not  a  hoarder,  but  a  friend  of  the  family. 
The  thick  foot-worn  carpets  and  much  of  the  heavy  fur- 
niture had  been  taken  over  from  the  former  proprietor, 
to  be  .>..,-plemented  by  incongruous  modern  garnishiiips 
constructed  by  machinery. 

The  McMlistiTs  occupied  a  suite  of  three  small  rooms 
on  the  fourth  floor  facing  the  avenue,  and  from  one  or 
other  of  the  w'ndows  Constance  !,'azed  pensively  out  at 
the  opposite  side  of  the  street,  much  as  she  had  fjazcd 
from  the  car  speeding  to  New  York,  while  Ben  had 
talked  jjlowinj^ly  of  what  he  would  accomplish  in  busi- 
ness. 

An  attempt  had  been  made  in  the  arranpremcnt  of  the 
(lininj3f-room  to  pfive  an  effect  of  semi-exdusiveness  for 
the  lH?nefit  of  those  eccentric  enough  to  desire  this  sort 
of  thing.  The  large  front  room  contained  two  long 
tables,  and  here  at  stated  hours  the  majority  of  the 
boarders,  men  and  women,  congregated.  Closed  folding 
doors  in  a  wide  archway  separated  the  big  apartment 
from  a  smaller  back  room  furnished  with  little  round 
tables  for  two,  and  larger  square  tables  for  f'  ./.  The 
service  here  was  not  so  prompt  as  in  the  more  popular 
division,  but  the  majority  treasured  this  room  as  being 
one  of  the  homelike  features  of  the  place,  although  they 
never  occujjied  it.  Others,  again,  valued  the  presence 
of  the  portly  woman  (who  was  proprietor  of  the  estab- 
lishment) at  the  head  of  the  table,  whose  large,  genial  at- 
titude of  hostess  presiding  at  a  country  house  gathering 
had  so  much  to  do  with  the  feeling  that  one  was  accept- 
ing hospitality  rather  than  receiving  goods  paid  for  at 
the  end  of  the  week.  The  manager  of  the  Fifth  .Avenue 
hotel  did  not  sit  down  with  his  "  guests  "  nor  know  each 
one  by  name. 

A  standing  witticism  in  the  comic  papers  leads  to  the 


"  Fortune's  furious  fickle  wlicci  '*       367 

inferenc  that  I.oanlin^^  liouso  slo-ik  is  fun-I,  and  ^canty 
but  both  Mrs.  Ilaiiim..n<l  an.l  lur  palr-.n^  aniLl  la.:i;li  at 
these  rccurnnj-  jokes  v  ith..iit  ftrlin,-  their  p.rsc.i.al  ai)- 
plication.  The  .nn,!  \va>  lavis  ,,>.<!  udl  o  ..ke.l,  excel- 
lent in  (|iiality.  hut  .11  soiiieuliat  loo  ^reat  variety  for 
much  distinction  to  rest  witli  anv  one  disli. 

Constance  preferred  a  Httle  ro'nn.I  tahir  in  the  smaller 
roon,.  where  she  and  l:.n  niiKht  he  alone  at  their  meals. 
)f    course    It    conid    have  heen    arran-^rd    to    hivalsfa.i 
unch.  and  dme  in  one  of  their  own  n    n>.  hut  Jii>  woul.j 
have  entaile.l  extra  cost,  while  evn.  uuw  the  hill  paid  at 
the  end  of  c-acli  weel<  appalled  the  ^'irl  with  its  extrava- 
gance.    I.i-n  ohjected  to  th.   t>ian  hecause  of  the  slowness 
of  the  service,  and  every      .inute  was  of  value  to  him. 
I.re|d<fast   was   hurried   thr..uj,di.   luncheon   he   never  at- 
end.d.  and  <hnner  he  rarely  indnl-e.l  in.  cu.nin-  home 
late  at  m«ht,  when  he  had  f.  let  himself  in  with  a  latch- 

Sometimes  on  the  inirequcnt  occasions  when  he  came 
to  dinner  a  hurst  of  lauj-hter  from  the  Ioul'  tahles 
f.-netrated  the  closed  doors,  and  lien  would  look  up  with 
an  appreciative  smile,  for  he  loved  his  fellow-man  and 
Iked  to  tliink  of  every  one  as  happv.  Were  he  ruler  .f 
the  world  all  Its  inhahitants  would  have  hern  jov< 
could  his  wish  make  them  so.  His  deeplv  seated  ' 
h^nous  feehnff  had  nothing  sombre  in  it.  ''Connie  "  lie 
cried  once.  "  we  ought  to  be  in  there.  ThevVe  a  jollv  lot 
Don  t  you  think  you'd  enjoy  that  better  than  sittinir'hcre 
mooning-  with  me? '" 

"  Xo."  answered  his  wife. 
,,.'?^''V-      Y""   "l'«^''t  to  get  acquaintod  with   people. 
\\  e  vc  been   here   for  months,  and   1   dunt  believe     ou 
know  a  soul  in  the  place." 

"  Do  you  ?  " 

"Oh.  with  me  it's  (liftVrent.  Tm  busy.  l\,  no  time  for 
that  sort  of  thing.  But  you  have  all  the  time  there  is  on 
your  hands,  and  it  would  be  ever  yo  much  livelier  for  vou 
If  you  were  on  visiting  terms  wi!h  some  of  them.  Don't 
the  folks  here  know  each  other?  They  seem  '^  be  very 
friendly  in  there. '  ^ 


ilH 


The  Victors 


"  Yes,  they  know  each  other.  Mrs.  Hammond  offered 
to  introduce  me  to  some  of  the  '  permanents,'  as  she  calls 
them.  Humanity  is  divided  into  two  classes  in  her  mind, 
the  permanents  and  the  transients,  the  former  being 
worthy  of  all  consideration.  The  women  visit  a  good 
deal  in  each  other's  rooms,  and  I  believe  much  gossip  is 
interchanged.  Some  have  called  on  me,  but  1  think  they 
regard  me  as  countryfied." 

"  Xonsense;  you  just  imagine  that." 

"  Tm  afraid  I'm  not  interested  in  them  or  their  con- 
versation, which  is  chiefly  of  dress  or  the  theatres,  or 
surmises  concerning  the  relations  of  some  of  the  tran- 
sients, and  even  of  the  permanents." 

"  Say.  Connie,  you  speak  cynically.  I  never  heard  you 
do  that  before." 

Constance,  in  xlefiance  of  etiquette,  placed  her  elbows 
on  the  table  and  her  chin  in  her  hands,  looking  earnestly 
across  at  him. 

"  O  Ben."  she  said  in  a  low  voice,  "  give  me  a  place 
as  shop-girl  in  your  store." 

The  good-natured  man  leaned  back  in  his  chair  and 
laughed  heartily.     This  was  a  rare  joke. 

"  My  dear  girl,  you  underrate  the  .American  husband. 
He  wants  his  wife  to  be  queen  among  women,  and  my 
wife  shall  be  so,  and  not  a  slave,  while  I  have  brains  and 
energy  to  order  it  otherwise.  The  shop-girls  are  work- 
ing for  you,  my  dear,  and  I  hope  some  day  to  have  a 
thousand  of  them.  I  tell  you  what  it  is,  Connie,  you 
should  take  up  some  study  that  would  interest  von. 
Music,  for  instance.  I'll  have  a  piano  sent  up  to  our 
rooms." 

"  A  piano!  Who  could  play  in  this  hive?  I'm  driven 
distracted  by  the  pianos  I  can  hear  now.  There  is  one 
in  the  room  adji  .ning,  set  against  the  wall — I  loathe  it — 
another  down  the  passage  and  one  in  the  room  above." 

*'  Well,  start  opposition,  which  is  the  life  of  trade. 
However.  T  only  make  the  suggestion.  All  New  York  is 
at  your  disposal.  By  Jove.  T  must  be  off,"  he  added, 
looking  at  his  watch.    "  Well.  ta.  ta.  mv  girl." 


"  ^^'-tune's  furious  fickle  wheel  "       369 

"  Must  you  CO    Brn  ?     ^.,.-„i 
both  niRht  and  liay  •  *'  *'""  *"  '  !">=  'o  work 

lion  laughed  his  cheery,  confident  laugh 

"B,3aX  tvK  "gL^rr  '"  •■^■-^  ^■•-^■■"  '-  said, 
even  longer  hours  than  1  do  "  "^  '""^  '" 

wa";,?,':.""''  "«  '"^  -"='■  -fPin-  snapped  it  shut,  and 

Often  he  talked  with  her  ahonf  tu..  u     ■ 
was  the  only  subject  on  Tvhth  h    a^W  T' =  '"  '''"'^  '^ 
arc  our:  nothing  else  seemed  at  Llnt.oZr^  ""' 

whole,  the  pJople  of  Ve^  v'  l'  ''''°''>'  ^''^^'  '^'^  ^he 
Their  clothes  their  hoots  Tl  ^^  '''''  ''^'"^  '^^'-^'ed. 
part  made  of  hoc!  and ^r'  'j^^V^^'"'"^  ^^^'^  ^''^  '""^t 
was  adulterate       KlUe^^^^^^^^^^^^  r''^'   ^'^-r  food 

-otto  of  the  new  Vr^vv^  r  '•  H^ne"  v'"  "xf  ••  '^'^.^ 
profits  and  quick  returns  -  idea  ofT  ^'i  ^^  '"'^'' 
carried  out    n  realitv      R.  ?,      ""  ""'^^^^  '^'^^  »«  he 

cash.     There  wouk    he  no     ''"'"'''  ''''•'■  ^^'^'^  ^"^>  ^^'^ct 
debit  side  o?  l^s  lelier    if  XTTr /''''''  ''^'^^^'  «'" 
all.     He  would  Jin "n,;     '  T^'''  '^^  """l^^  ^  '^^''ger  at 
buyers  of  X    '  York    a  u  Tt     '"'^°^  ^'^^  ready-money 
time  would  come  when  II  iT    ?  "u'"'^''°"  '^'''  '^' 
purchased  from  McAlhster   Mo"  ^o  t  r '\r  ^'"^'^'^  ^^'^^ 
wo^"^'  be  a  guarantee  ^f  i^s  n  a,itf     H.T  V""'"' 
large  and  re-enlarge  his  i  remi^e^lh,    f-    ^'^''''  '°  ""' 
another,  the  a, 'joining    hons   .„h     f'^'"'','^!"-^-  °"^'  ^^ter 
Plished  he  expected  to  eZ  .        m'^'"  ""'  ^^'"^^  ^^<^0"i- 
model  to  the\  orTi      lie    'd     1     '" 'l  '^'''  ^^'^^'^^  ^^  ^ 
an  idea.  Hie  idea  o f  thl    .  ''""''  ""  *'^^  ^^-^nii  of 

n-ciai  Jugg:[;lrt^h  t  t'or^^^^^^^     r  ■-/■^^  -- 

•on  and   ruin   the  small  deX    an      I  .         '      "P^"''- 

future  legislatures  were  fn  n  It     i  ''^"'""'^   ^^'^'^'h 

to  bringTrntolcI  wenhh  fol  '^''''  ""  '^^^^  ^'^''tined 

curses  5pon  their  heads  ^'■°"'°'''''  '"^  ""mitigated 

"  I^tcll  you  what  it  is,  Connie,"  he  exclaimed,  "  I  will 


■I 

i"  I 

is*' 


v 


370 


The  Victors 


be  at  the  head  of  a  vast  emporium  in  wh:ch  any  woman 
may  get  whatever  she  wants  without  going  from  under 
our  roof,"  and  he  emphasised  h:s  statement  by  a  sweep- 
ing gesture,  as  if  to  typify  the  immensity  of  femmme  de- 
sires. 

"  Then  T  shall  go  there,  Ben." 

"  Of  course  you  will,  and  youU  get  what  you  want, 
too,  at  the  right  price  for  the  right  quality." 

"  What  I  shall  want  will  be  my  husband,  for  I  thmk 
the  price  I  am  paving  is  too  much." 

"  For  the  quality,  eh  ?  "  laughed  Ben  as  he  kissed  her. 
He  was  a  hopelessly  good-natured  man. 


I     I  : 


CHAPTER  VIII 

"l    DO    DESIRK    SOME    CONFIDENCE" 

It  is  not  easy  to  gain  the  confidence  of  a  large  citv 
There  arc  many  competitors,  and  you  must  let  the  in- 
habitants   know    that    you  are    in    the    running      This 
means  advertising,  and  advertising  means  moncv  Gener- 
ously spent,  with   faith  in  its  return   increased 'a  thou- 
sand-fold.    It  is  all  very  well  to  do  a  cash  business  if 
you  have  sufficient  capital,  but  McAllister,  Monro  &  Co 
soon  found  that  they  must  husband  their  resources  and 
take  credit  where  they  could  get  it.     Before  a  vcar  had 
passed  the  firm  was  in  difficulties.    Den  had  many  glow- 
ing schemes  on  which  he  would  have  staked  evervthin^ 
confident  of  success,  but  Jim  was  more  conservative  acN 
ing  as  a  balance  wheel  to  the  concern,  subduing  Ren's 
enthusiasm  without  dampening  his  ardour.    Both  worked 
to  the  utmost  of  their  capacity,  indulging  in  no  vacations 
Ai    f,v       ordinary  man  the  unexpected  drection  which 
McAllisters  ventures  sometimes  took  would  have  been 
disconcerting,  but  Monro  had  an  inexhaustible  faith  in 
his  partners  genius,  a  quality  entirely  unlike  his  own 
more  plodding  methods,  and  Jim  would  carry  patiently 
to  Its  conclusion  some  brilliant  proposal  which  had  been 
completely  forgotten  by  its  projector,  after  it  had  been 
uttered  with  such  force  of  eloquence  as  to  impress  it  in- 
delibly on  Monro's  mind. 

The  need  of  money  had  to  become  acute  before  it 
crossed  the  line  which  limited  the  range  of  McAllister's 
attention.  He  was  in  the  habit  of  waving  a  crisis  aside 
with  the  remark  that  Jim  would  attend  to  the  matter,  for 
h!s  belief  in  Monro's  power  to  surmount  obstacles  was 
only  equalled  by  the  lattcr's  confidence  in  the  potentiality 

37  J 


iir 


I  ! 


^BJiilli 

:  _-  ===:  - 

■ 

i  ^ 

^^^^^H^- 

^^B 

y 

372 


The  Victors 


of  P>en's  scintillating  suggestions.  Once  brought  up 
against  the  stone  wall  of  financial  embarrassment,  how- 
ever, McAllister  with  tireless  cnrgy,  backed  by  fervent 
prayer,  set  himself  resolutely  at  the  task  of  climbing  over 
or  finding  a  way  round.  It  -vas  astonishing  bow  often  he 
averted  impending  disaster.  His  certainty  of  himself 
and  belief  in  his  proposals  were  so  overwhelming  that 
he  seemed  to  hypnotise  the  money  from  the  most  unlikely 
sources.  If  a  man  listened  he  must  end  by  being  con- 
vinced, and  if  he  had  the  cash  it  changed  pockets. 
When  iMcAllister  reached  the  point  where  despair  set  in, 
his  puritanical  fervour  bore  him  up,  and  his  unshaken  as- 
surance that  the  Lord  was  associated  with  him  tided  over 
many  a  depth  in  which  another  man  would  have  sunk. 

Sometimes  the  remedy  which  ]\TcAllister  applied  for 
reducing  these  constantly  recurring  commercial  fevers 
was  so  ridiculously  inadequate,  not  to  say  incongruous, 
that  Monro  was  agb?.5t,  confronting  some  elusive  course 
of  reasoning  which  he  could  not  grasp.  An  example  of 
this  was  the  advent  of  Edward  Holderness,  stupefying  to 
Monro  at  the  time,  but  by  him  admitted  later  to  have 
been  a  master  stroke,  a  conclusion  which  McAllister  had 
never  for  a  moment  doubted. 

One  morning  Ben  left  the  store  after  a  serious  consul- 
tation with  his  partner,  grievously  depressed.  Five  hun- 
dred dollars  must  be  produced  before  closing  time,  and 
the  bank  account  of  the  firm  was  overdrawn.  Ben  had 
no  more  idea  where  ne  was  to  get  the  money  than  the 
man  who  urged  him  to  buy  unneeded  lead  pencils  in 
the  street.  He  saw  neither  that  man  nor  any  other  as 
he  walked  the  crowded  pavement,  for  his  mind  and 
soul  were  in  urgent  communion  with  One  whom  he 
regarded  as  the  chief  memlier  of  the  firm.  People  ran 
against  McAllister  and  made  comment,  sometimes 
polite,  more  often  sharply  the  reverse,  but  Ben  paid 
no  heed. 

Monro  spent  an  anxious  day.  He  feared  the  resource- 
fulness of  his  friond  had  come  to  an  end,  as,  some  day, 
it  must,  if  the  efiforts  of  the  supply  company  did  not 


"  I  do  desire  some  confidence  "        373 

meet  a  more  substantial  appreciation  from  the  public 
than  was  at  present  the  case.  The  constant  strain  of 
stcerinpf  the  boat  in  these  turbulent  rapids,  avoiding 
the  rocks  by  a  hair's  breadth,  was  teUing  on  the  nerves 
of  both   men. 

At  three  oclock  Monro,  from  his  glass-wallcd  office 
that  overlooked  the  v.hole  interior  of  the  store,  saw  his 
partner  enter.  McAllister's  hat  was  set  on  tlie  back  of 
his  head,  his  face  was  radiant,  and  the  buovancy  of 
springtime  was  in  his  step.  He  had  a  smile  and'  a  cliecry 
word  of  greeting  for  the  employees  he  passed,  all  of 
whom  liked  him  and  would  do  anything  for  him.  A 
gloomy,  disheartened  man  had  gone  out  that  morning; 
a  jubilant  boy  was  now  returning.  He  came  into  the 
office,  his  right  hand  upraised,  which  he  brought  down 
with  a  resounding  clap  on  the  shoulder  of  his  friend. 

"Jimmy,  my  son.  I've  done  the  greatest  stroke  of  busi- 
ness to-day  that's  been  pulled  olT  in  New  York  for  a 
year." 

"  I'm  very  glad  to  h  -ar  it."  said  Monro,  his  forebod- 
ings scattering  like  mist  before  the  sun. 

"  Yes,  sir ;  it  takes  your  uncle  Ben  to  put  his  finger 
right  on  the  spot.  I  was  going  down  Rroadwav  and 
stopped  in  front  of  Cowan's  jewelry  store.  All  at 
once  it  struck  me  that  old  Cowan  might  want  to  come 
in  on  the  new  commercial  movement  and  join  the  pro- 
cession. He's  one  of  the  richest  fellows  in  Xew 
York,  you   know.'' 

"  There  couldn't  be  a  better  man,"  agreed  Jim.  wann- 
ing.    "  Was  he  willing?" 

"  Don't  know.  Didn't  see  him.  I  went  in  and  was 
met  by  the  floorwalker,  as  we  would  call  him ;  what  title 
Cowan  gives  him  I  haven't  the  slightest  idea.  I  expect 
the  man  must  be  a  duke.  He  was  the  most  polite  indi- 
vidual I  ever  encountered  ;  made  me  feel  like  a  clodhopper 
beside  him.  I  tell  you,  Jim,  Western  colleges  should  pay 
more  attention  to  deportment  than  they  do.  The  busi- 
ness side  of  pure  politeness  has  never  been  thoroughly  ap- 
preciated in  this  country,  and  we  are  apt  to  underesti- 


5  ■  !  i| 


374 


The  Victors 


mate  it  in  foreijjners.  Now,  Jim,  you  and  I  arc  first-class 
fellows,  of  course,  but  beside  a  man  like  Ilolderness  of 
Cowan's,  we're  tuicnutli ;  that's  what  we  are — uncouth." 

"  Quite  so,  but  what,  in  Heaven's  name,  has  all  that  to 
do  with — " 

"  Wait  a  moment.  I'm  cominjj  to  the  point.  This 
man  Ilolderness  thought  at  first  1  was  a  customer. 
Naturally  he  was  polite.  Then  he  learned  I  wanted  to 
interview  his  chief,  and  after  expressing  in  the  most 
deferential  manner  that  this  chief  was  a  very  busy  person 
who  could  see  no  one  unless  an  appointment  had  been 
made,  he  actually  foiled  me  in  my  attempt  to  meet  the  old 
gentleman,  and  did  it  with  a  manner  so  charming  that  it 
was  a  pleasure  to  be  discomfited." 

"  Then  how  did  vou  get  to  the  inner  office?  " 

"  I  have  just  told  you  that  T  didn't  get  in.  No,  sir.  I 
didn't  get  in,  and  right  here  came  over  me  a  flash  of  in- 
spiration. I  knew  there  was  something  we  lacked  in 
our  store,  ard  up  to  that  moment  I  had  but  the  vaguest 
sort  of  notion  what  it  was." 

"  We  lack  cash,"  interrupted  Jim  with  some  severity. 

"  Oh,  yos,  but  cash  is  comparatively  a  minor  matter. 
That  will  come  all  right  enough.  When  money  begins 
to  flow  into  this  place  the  Croton  dam  coiildn't  keep  it 
out.  First  tap  the  reservoir,  then  run  your  levels  right  and 
the  water  will  come  like  a  flood.  Well,  as  I  was  saying, 
I  made  up  my  mind  right  on  the  spot  that  we  had  to  have 
this  man.  '  What's  your  name?  '  I  asked  him.  '  Edward 
Ilolderness,"  he  answered,  too  cultured  to  show  snrprisc. 
'  Look  here,  Mr.  Holder ncss,'  I  cried,  '  you're  m\  man.  I 
want  you  and  you  want  me.  I  have  in  embrjo  the  great- 
est business  in  New  York  City.  It  will  be  a  mine  of 
minted  gold  when  th's  little  shop  is  jogging  on  in  the 
same  old  way,  glad  of  making  a  beggarly  hundred  thou- 
sand a  year.  You  must  come  with  me.'  Well,  sir,  that 
chap  was  too  highly  refined  to  discuss  the  matter  on  his 
employer's  premises.  He  w^ould  make  an  appointment 
with  me  next  week,  he  said,  and  talk  over  the  scheme. 
'  Next  week ! '  I  shouted.     '  Next  week  may  be  next  cen- 


"  I  do  desire  some  confidence  "        375 
tury  as  far  as  we  are  roncerned.     1  settle  thnm^  now 

•  AlTri   h/'xr'""^'''  •  '  ^  A^^^^'-     ■  ^-^^  ""^'  o'clock.- tysl,T 
Al  right.   Meet  me  at  Delmonico's  at  one  o'clock  sharn  ' 

lunch  that  ever  was  served  in  this  town  " 
Jim  groaned. 
"How  did  you  pay  for  it?  "  he  asked. 

Mey  did.     They  know  me  there.     And  I  tell  you  what 

the  ready,  don  t  fool  round  going  to  a  cheap  place,  trying 
their  most  economical  dishes.  Clo  to  the  vcrv  best  res' au^- 
rant  and  order  the  l,est  they've  got.  growling  because  t 
Jsnt  better.  Oh.  I  understand  this  village  even  if  1  did 
come  from  the  West.  Well.  sir.  I  jtistlold  Holdernes 
what  we  re  gomg  to  do  with  this  outfit.     Taralvsed  him 

he  wanted  to  jom  us.     It  seems  they're  giving  him  two 

housand  five  hundred  dollars  a  year  at  Cowan-s,  and  he 

asked  three  thousand  .0  come  with  us.     '  111  give  you 

fivxj^  thousand;  sa.d  I,  and  we  settled  it  right  there  an3 

^.InnLT"  'y^''^'ii''t<^'-'f. enthusiasm  proved  unavailing. 
Monro  leaned  back  m  h.s  chair,  and.  without  replying 
gazed  sadly  through  the  glass  at  the  employees  scitferS 
about  the  store,  whose  wages  on  the  coming  Saturd 
he  did  not  know  how  to  meet.     A  shade  of  grey  oycr- 

rosTto  his  f";  ''",'""^^"  ''''  ''''  gathering^hill,  and 
rose  to  h.s  feet  speakmg  earnestly  and  emphasising  hi. 
remarks  v  "1  eloquent  gestures  of  the  right  hand 

1  know  exactly  what  you  think.  Jim.  You  think  it's 
popr  busmess  policy  to  oflFer  a  man  five  thousand  when 
he  s  willing  to  come  for  three  thousand.  Now  I  want 
to  deal  generously  with  those  who  are  nelping  me  I 
want  my  people  to  be  more  than  satisfied.  The  day  of 
he  cheap  man  is  past.  From  now  on  America  is  going 
to  have  httle  use  for  any  who  are  not  of  the  very  first 
c.ass.  1  !k-  man  of  brains  -'s  going  to  make  monev  •  the 
man  of  muscle  is  going  to  get  work,  but  for  the'  great 


376 


The  Victors 


1  i 


■»   1      I* 


li 


i,i 


commonplace  crowd  between  the  two— well,  it's  in  for  a 
bad  time." 

Still  Monro  maintained  silence. 

"And  yet  I'm  cheating  Holdcrness.     He's  a  twenty- 
five  thousand  dollar  man.  and  hell  get  that  from  me 
before    I    (luit.     Yes,   and  by    smoke.    Til  give  him  his 
twenty  thousand  a  year  back  pay.  too;  S(^e  if  T  don't.  You 
know,  Jim.  we  are  dealing  with  the    ..omen.     Women 
will  be  our  customers  and  we  must  i)k'ase  them.     It's 
all  nonsense  to  say    that    women  like    your    gruff,  out- 
spoken person  ;  they  don't.     They  want  def  rence  and 
they  want  it  smooth  and  suave.     Y'ou  just  oi     iit  to  hear 
the  way  1  lolderness  pronounces  the  word  '  niadame.'     I 
tell  you  it'--  a  lesson  in  elocution.     The  tone  is  like  velvet 
and  the  manner    is  the    incarnation  of    deepest  respect. 
Why,  he'd  make  a  woman  from  the  Bowery  think  he 
took  her  for  a  duchess.     Jim,  he  will  '  madame  '  us  into 
prosperity.     You  can't  keep  the  ladies  of  New  York  away 
from  this  store  when  Ilolderncss  is  with  us." 
There  was  an  interval  before  Monro  spoke. 
"  I  quite  agree  with  you  that  it  is  necessarv  to  have 
a  polite  floorwalker.     I'm  glad  you've  got  the  right  per- 
son.    How  about  that  other  matter?" 
"  What  other  matter  ?  " 
"  The  five  hundred  dollars." 
"  What  five  hundred  dollars  ?  "  ,        '  „ 

"  The  money  we  must  have  before  five  o'clock." 
"  Oh,  that !     I  settled  the  question  going  up  Sixth  Ave- 
nue.    I  couldn't  do  any  business  until  I  got  it  off  my 
mind." 

"  I  was  afraid  you  had  forgotten  it,  Ben.     When  is  the 
money  to  be  here?  " 

"  Before  five  o'clock,  of  course.    That's  the  hour  you 
mentioned." 

"  Quite  right.     How  did  you  raise  it  ?  " 

"  I  didn't  raise  it.     I  don't  know  a  man  in  town  who'd 

let  me  have  the  money.     I  said  to  the  Lord  as  I  walked 

along  Sixth  Avenue,  '  I'm  up  a  tree.     We've  got  to  have 

five  hundred  dollars  at    the    store    before  five  o'clock.' 


"  I  do  desire  some  conlideiicc  "        377 
rt"  'a'^pta/'*^"  ''"'"'  "^"'  °«f  '"J-  """J.  ""'l  I  fcU  like 

•■ !  SI;  ^cfdid^r-  wa:''"?^;,?';'  ^'°"™.,r™,,. 

Do  you  expect  me  to  .nect  our  creditori--    arp  New 
York  business  nie„-ancl  offer  them  such  securU-' 

,,^^r?^^rt.s^aa;-j%,, 

air.  tor  us  mtuit.on  was  always  stronger  than  his  reason 
TiK-  halloomng:  bubble  of  this  mixture  of  l)u    ness  nn  i 

fC  IV  },  '  ''"  "''*'''^''  ^  responsive  .urh-cnce-  in 
His  sen  •t^'^^^P^^^.'-^  f  ''""bt  his  exaltation  sCelier 
H.s   sensitive   sp.nt   shrank   from    Monro's   increX  ms 

it-s.rnitn-ai'j:*"  '■"  ^'-'^  -'^--^  <^'^ 

know.     N-„„,  Jin,.  „|j  „„„,  „.|,,,^^^^  ^    ™nd   >o„ 

ia    llicrc  IS  a  difference  between  us.     We'll  ,l,„sl,  .-,1 
;.'r,  7;,'„?'.'."-'''-     You  won't  say  anytl.h'^  ',!'ow!"w-l! 

i.r?rintij":jr"-  '-'^'"'  ""'""-^  ''•- 

,.=  "  ■'ti;-^'-'''  '"'"''I'^"'^"-  I'm  Riail  .vou  found  time  to  visit 
the  eo^c'e™ -."-^  "^""^^^  ''^-  ^'o"™^  '^^  -""  ™an  of 
The  urbanity  of  Mr.  Holderness  in  greetin<r  hi,  new 
employers  fully  justified  the  eulogies  of  McAUister. 


378 


The  Victors 


lftl> 


"  Now  well  have  a  walk  round  the  premises,  for  I'm 
surcTo^'re  anxious  to  be  off  again."  cr.ed  Ben.  ncrv- 
ouslv  rubbing  his  hands  together.  .u       i 

Monro  sat  where  he  was  and  watched  the  two  thread 
their  way  among  the  long  tables  piled  with  goods.     Ihe 
mobil    right  hand  of  Ben  gesticulated    his  round  hat  wa 
pushed  farther  and  further  tothcback  of  h«s  headjhe 
?roth  was  boiling  up  again,  now  that  he  had  an  attentive 
listener  •  the  place  was  transforming  itself  to  h  s  pro 
pS  eye  into  a  thronged  mart,  the  commercial  retail 
hear^of  a  great  city.     Evidently  his  untiring  eloquence 
b'ugh  the^ision  v'ery  vividly  to  the  n.ind  of  -visitor, 
whose  hearing  showed  deferential  acqu.escence.    Monro, 
out  of  the  influence,  sighed  deeply.  .. 

"Wonderful  man."  he  murmured  to  hitnsel*.  it 
faith  could  carry  us  on.  how  prosperous  we  should  be 

Their  excursion  ended,  the  two  returned  to  the  office^ 
McAll  ster's  eves  glowed  after  his  fever  of  talk  and  the 
po^U^n  :?  hi:-baro'metric  hat  showed  that  h.s  spirits  were 
still  at  a  high  level.     In  convincing  others  he  convinced 

^""Mr.  H.lderness  quite  agrees  with  me.  Jinj.^^^t' 
got  everything  our  own  way  if  we  only  ^vork  it  right, 
and  thaJs  exactly  what  we're  gomg  to  ^o  _      ^ 

"  The  possibilities  are  certainly  most  al  uring.  said  the 
urbane  Mr.  Holdenicss  "I'm  thorou^i^y  at  one  - 
Mr.  McAllister  in  his  ideas  regardmg  the  .  ['^atment  ot 
the  public,  and  I  feel  sure  great  success  will  fo"ow 
'  Monro.'with  an  effort,  replied  that  he  hoped  such 
would  be  the  case.  Ben  glanced  timorously  from  one  to 
the  other,  a  set  smile  on  his  lips.  -UnlAer- 

"  There  are  one  or  two  points."  continued  Mr.  Holder 
ness  "  which  mav  be  mentioned,  now  that  we  are  all  here 
Together     In  the  first  place.  I  should  like  to  begm  with 
lou  a  httle  sooner  than  I  anticipated-to-morrow,  m  fact. 

''  r^^Zft^r,  cried  McAllister  cordially. 
"  "^^rr^i^olS^^  my  late  empWer 


•'  i  do  desire  some  confidence  "        379 

(lid  not  take  my  resignation  in  tho  spirit  I  lia<I  cxpccteil. 
He  endeavoured  to  j^nve  it  tlie  effect  of  a  dismissal,  and  to 
that,  of  course,  i  made  no  obj-'Ction.  The  dismissal,  how- 
ever, is  instant ;  thus  I  am  prejiared  to  come  here  at  once. 
This  brills  me  to  my  second  point,  which  is  financial— I 
hope  you  will  not  think  I  am  m  ifr  conditions,  but 
rather  offering;  suji^K«-'>*ti(Jtis." 

"  Certainly,  certainly,"  ejactdated  lien,  his  brow  wrink- 
hnff  in  perplexity.  Monro  said  to  himself,  "  lie  is  anx- 
ious about  his  salary— and  no  wonder." 

"  Mr.  Cowan  has  many  commendable  traits  in  business 
relation,  and  his  present  anj^er  and  hasle  do  not  blind  me 
to  his  more  intrinsic  qualities.  He  allows  !n's  employes 
to  put  their  savings  into  the  capita!  of  the  firm— a  most 
excellent  device  in  my  opinion— sr-urinjj  that  interest  on 
tjieir  part  in  the  success  of  the  establishment  which  comes 
from  a  proprieinry  holding.  My  own  small  investment 
I  should  gladlv  have  allowed  to  remain  with  him,  but  he 
somewhat  curtly  declined,  and  drew  me  a  cheque  on  the 
spot,  li  is  only  seven  hundred  and  cightv-fivc  dollars, 
but  I  should  feel  obliged  if  you  would  allow  me  to  take 
stock  in  this  growing  cntcrnrise  to  that  amount,  with  the 
privilege  of  increasing  it  fiDUi  time  to  time." 

"  I  see  no  objection  to  that,"  said  Mc.Mlister  quickly. 
"Jim,  make  out  a  receipt  for  seven  hundred  and  eighty- 
five  dollars,  sign  it,  and  then  I'll  countersign  it.  We 
will  issue  the  stock  to  you  to-morrow,  Mr.  Holderness, 
and  take  up  your  receipt." 

Monro  mechanically  drew  toward  himself  n  long  book 
of  blanks,  and  wrote  as  he  had  been  directed.  Mr  Hol- 
derness sat  down  and  slowly  indorsed  a  cheque  he  had 
taken  from  his  pocket-book,  blotted  the  signature  with 
care  and  laid  the  document  on  the  table.  McAllister 
rapidly  scrawled  his  undecipherable  sign  manual  on  the 
paper  his  partner  handed  to  him.  The  cheque  went  into 
a  drawer,  and  the  receipt  into  a  pocket-book  Mr.  Hol- 
derness arose  and  took  his  leave  with  ingratiating  amia- 
bility. 

In  the  silence  that  ensued  McAllister  walked  uu  and 


38o 


The  Victors 


down  the  room,  his  eyes  Rk-aminK  as  if  a  flame  had  been 
kindled  behind  them.  In  his  veins  throbhed  the  Cove- 
nanter blood,  whose  iron  had  nerved  some  ancestor  to 
face  death  untlinchinK  for  his  failh.  When  at  last  he 
spoke,  his  voice  ranjj  out  in  the  fervid  tone  of  the  ex- 
horter  the  expressive  ri^ht  hand  automatically  pushing 
his  hat  further  back  ere  it  added  gesture  to  speech. 

"Ten  minutes  past  four,  Tjnimy  ;  ten  nunutes  past  four! 
1  told  von  the  monev  would  be  here.  '  A  man  can  receive 
nothing  except  it'  have  been  Riven  from  heaven. 
Yet  have  I  not  seen  the  righteous  forsaken,  nor  his  see( 
b  ;ririnir  bread.'  Write  our  own  cheque  for  fi  o  hundred 
dollars  and  see  that  this  draft  from  Holderness  is  m  the 
bank  as  soon  as  the  doors  open  to-morrow  morning. 


'J?  A     ::as7^ 


ce;i 

iVf- 

to 

he 

cx- 

ling 

)ur! 
civc 
in.' 
;ce(l 
Ircd 
the 


CHAPTER   IX 

"  A    GRACIOLS    I'ICKSON  " 

Fdward  HoLDKKXKss  found  his  emplovcr  waiting  for 
hmi  when  he  returned  to  the  jewelkrv  store.  Mr  Cmvan 
was  not  .n  pood  temper  as  he  paced  up  and  down  tlie 
loiiK'  and  broad  space  between  tlie  counters,  behind  which 
numerous  clerks  were  ostentatiously  busv.  sonir  assidu- 
ously servmjr  the  public,  others  actively  eneaffed  in  un- 
necessary rcarranfjrement  of  the  wares    '       ^  ^ 

;;  And  where  have  you  been,  sir  ?  "  de.nnt.dod  the  chief. 
Sivfi  \  \  •■'Y.ty  of  visitinpr  the  establishment  on 

bixth  .\veni:e  to  which  I  have  attached  tu'self  " 

Attached    yourself!     The    liberty!     Put    in    plainer 
language,  you  stole  the  time  from  me  •" 

"  Perhaps  we  had  better  discuss  this  in  a  Ls.s  con^pic- 
roc:;:,;s^r?"    '"■•  '■°"'"-     ^'''   '  "'^'Sest  ,.ur  pr.iate 

"I  am  not  going  to  discuss  anything  with  vou  ano  if 
1  did  It  vyould  be  when  and  where  1  please,  the  store  is 
mme.  1  hope. 

"  L'ndoubtedly  it  is   sir." 

''  Then  explain  your  theft  of  time,  which  I  pay  for  " 
Durmg  the  busy  season  I  have  often  worked  for  you 

nf.  nt  ?"''  Tl^'7l  "''^■■"^  °'"  ^'-^P^^'^inff  additional  re- 
muneration; I  had  hoped,  therefore,  you  would  perhaps 
overlook  the  taking  of  a  few  minutes  for  myself--" 

th.  X  'T'T-  /^"  "^'^^'^  i'^'^'^y  '"  the  same  wav 
the  taking  of  a  few  dollars  from  niy  till  " 

XvirlCr""^  •?  '"'T-''-  '■'■•  ^^''^  the' comparison  is  harsh. 
Nevertheless,  if  such  is  your  view.  T  am  anxious  that  von 

my'sa"a^^"^'°""^^^  ^^  ^  corresponding  deduction  from 

"Exactly.     Always    the    plea  of    the  detected  thief. 

381 


jaiismi'ic-k.-: 


382 


The  Victors 


The  money  will  be  returned  if  no  inconvenient  questions 

are  asked."  ,f      •  ,  •     r 

Edward  Holderness  contented  himself  with  an  incli- 
nation of  the  head.  The  shopmen  were  more  absorbed 
in  their  activities  than  ever.  The  master's  vo'.ce  was  loud 
and  domineering,  and  the  solf  answers  he  received  did 
not  turn  awav  wrath. 

"  I've  had  enough  of  you  ;  get  out,  and  never  set  foot 
on  mv  premises  again." 

The  floorwalker  bowed  once  more,  and  retired  with  the 
gentle  tiptoe  tread  of  his  profession.  He  swept  one 
kindly  glance  at  his  fellow-labourers  as  he  with- 
drew, an  expression  of  friendly  interest  and  sym- 
pathv  so  subtle  that  it  could  not  compromise  them 
with'  their  satrap,  vet  tangible  enough  to  convey  to  each 
an  unwhispered  valediction.  He  did  not  put  on  his 
faultlessly  glossv  silk  hat  until  he  was  well  across  the 
threshold,  then '  he  passed  up  I'.roadway  as  properly 
attired  a  man  as  could  be  found  on  that  well-dressed 
thoroughfare.  In  ordinary  events  he  would  have  taken 
a  car  to  his  modest  home  in  the  Harlem  district,  but  now 
some  hours  of  the  afternoon  were  unexpectedly  at  his 
disposal,  so  where  Broadway  cut  I'ifth  Avenue  he  desert- 
ed the  business  street  and  continued  north  on  the  road 
of  fashion,  a  figure  in  no  way  incongruous  to  its  sur- 
roundings „     ,    ,  . 

Further  and  further  up  the  town  walked  this  apparent 
g-ntleman  of  leisure,  and  none  who  met  him  could  notice 
outward  indication  of  inward  ferment  at  the  contumely 
heaped  upon  him  bv  his  late  employer.  His  serenity  was 
un--ffled,  his  brow  unclouded.  At  last  he  came  to  a 
district  which  knew  him  not.  a  locality  swarming  with 
the  poor,  but  the  quiet  dignity  of  that  measured  walk  was 
in  no  wav  relaxed.  U  any  hurried  inhabitant  jostled 
against  the  deliberate  pedestrian,  he  collided  with  one 
whose  business  was  a  consideration  of  others,  and  unex- 
pectedly met  a  smile  where  he  anticipated  a  curse. 

Xearing  his  own  home  Mr.  Holderness  paused  before 
a  shop  that  displayed,  mostly  on  the  pavement,  a  vane- 


'm 


. 


"A  gracious  person 


383 


gated  stock  of  cheap  crockery,  the  prices  marked  in  lartre 
black  figures  on  cardboard  or  on  the  <lishes  themselvTS 
Ihree  pitchers    positive,  comparative  and  superlative  in 
size,  attracted  his  attention. 

••  ill  ^^^f /\'r'  ir?,"  f^'"^'"'"  ^'"^  '^''^  t"  ^^'^  shopman. 
All  right.  Mr.  Ifok'erness.     Hav:  them  sent  right  up 
as  usual,  I  suppose?"  ■        ^ 

"  If  you  will  be  so  kind."    He  paused  a  moment  while 
the  shopman  stood  expectant.     "  And   I   think   Til  have 
two  of  those  large  basins,  if  you  have  any  of  thorn  left 
tlie  coarse  cheap  kind,  you  know." 

"Like  you  had  a  month  ago?  Yes,  sir,  they'll  he 
delivered  before  vou  get  home." 

"Thank  you."'  Holderness  paid  for  his  purchases  and 
went  slowly  onward,  the  boy  with  the  crockery-filled 
basket  passing  him  on  the  way. 

The  house  of  Holderness  was  a  semi-detached  three- 
story  structure.  Its  occupier  looked  at  his  uatch  as  he 
approached  it.  He  had  timed  himself  exactly  and  would 
reach  his  door  at  the  customary  moment,  as  if  he  had 
taken  a  car  at  his  usual  hour  down-town 

As  he  entered  his  own  hall  a  strange,  oppressive  silence 
brooded  over  the  place,  emphasised  rather  than  disturbed 
by  the  diminishing  swish  of  a  woman's  skirts  and  the 
quiet,  surreptitious  shutting  of  an  inner  door.     To  this 
the  man  paid  no  attention.     He  went  up  the  stairs  to  his 
own  room  and  there  removed  gloves,  hat.  coat  an<l  ve.t 
As  those  articles  of  clothing  were  aban.loned  one  by  one 
something  of  the  wearer's  urbanity  departed  in  their  com- 
pany.    Spotless  shirt  and  collar  and  irreproachable  cravat 
took  with  them  into  their  retirement  a  measuralle  ,)or- 
tion  of  the  aroma  of  civilisation,  and  at  last  there  stood 
in  the  room  a  primeval  savage  in  coarse  trousers  belted 
round  the  waist,  woollen  shirt  open  at  the  throat     There 
was  a  suggestion  of  the  leopard  in  the  way  he  spran-  up 
he  stairs  to  the  third  story,  three  steps  at  a  time.     P.efore 
the  door  of  a  room  had  been  placed  the  two  basins  and 
he  three  p.tdiers.    Holderness  put  a  key  into  the  lock  and 
turned  it.     1  .le  inienor  of  the  attic  was  a  wreck  ;  broken 


iJii 


•1.*  ► 


384 


The  Victors 


chairs,  a  ruined  table  inclining  at  an  angle  of  forty-five  de- 
grees, two  legs  gone,  the  floor  covered  with  shattered 
earthenware.     Some  pictures  hung  against  the  wall  by  a 
corner  or  a  bit  of  cord.    Into  this  scene  of  disaster  Holder- 
ness  carried  his  crockery  and  closed  the  door.    He  looked 
in  vain  for  any  piece  of  furniture  level  enough  on  which 
to  place  his  new  purchase,  th^n.  as  if  in  fury  at  the  disap- 
pointment, he  raised  the  whole  assortment,  and  dashed 
it  with  a  crash  to  the  floor,  making  the  house  shudder. 
One  pitcher  bounded  away,  miraculously  unharmed.     A 
malignant  kick  sent  it  against  the  wall,  and  its  immunity 
was  of  the  shortest.     The  coise  of  destruction  seemed 
to  goad  the  destroyer  to  frenzy.     Placing  a  foot  against 
the  decrepit,  table.'  he  wrenched  off  one  remaining  leg 
from,  its  socket  and  laid  about  him  with  vigour,  hissing 
through  his  clenched  teeth  the  language  of  the  slums, 
mingled    with    the   name   of    Cowan.     The   unfortunate 
table  for  the  moment  appeared  to  personify  the  cele- 
brated dealer  in  gems,  and  on  that  the  assailant  expended 
his  fury  until  the  wooden  cudgel  splintered  in  his  hands. 
Half  an  hour  of  this  exercise  brought  its  result.     Hol- 
derness  stood  over  the  fragments  with  heaving  chest  and 
perspiration  pouring  down  his  face.     The  reprehensible 
language   ceased   as  the   muscular   activity   waned,   and 
silence"  rested  once  more  upon  the  stricken  house.     As 
he  stood  panting,  leaning  against  the  wall,  there  came 
up  to  him  the  pleasant   sound  of  pouring  water.     He 
swept  the  moisture  from  his  brow,  went  out,  locked  the 
door  behind  him  and  stole  softly  down  the  stairs  to  the 
bath-room,  \\    ere  unseen  hands  had  set  the  taps  going. 
He  emerged  from  the  water  a  giant  refreshed,  clothed 
and  in  his  right  mind,  and  descended  the  remaining  stairs. 

"  That  vou,  papa  ?  "  cried  an  eager  childish  voice. 

"  Yes,  darling,"  was  the  no  less  eager  reply. 

The  unseen  hand  which  held  the  floodgate  relaxed  its 
grip.  A  door  swung  open  and  a  troop  of  joyous  chil- 
dren burst  into  the  hall.  Holderness  seized  the  youngest 
and  tossed  her  into  the  air,  the  baby  soaring  aloft  with  a 
tremulous    crow,    half   delight,    half    fear.     The   others 


SST 


^rrr 


fm. 


55^ 


"  A  gracious  person  " 


385 


clustered  round  him,  and  over  their  heads  appeared  the 
anxious  face  of  their  mother,  a  wavering  smile  on  her 
lips. 

"  Dinner  is  ready,  Ed.'"  she  said,  and  they  all  trooped 
into  the  dining-room. 

"  You  have  had  no  trouble  with  Mr.  Cowan,  I  hope?  " 
continued  the  lady  of  the  house  to  the  head  of  the  table. 

"  Nothing  to  speak  of.  He  was  a  trifle  more  tyran- 
nical than  usual." 

"  I  hope  you  did  not  answer  him  back,  Edward?  " 

"  No  ;  I  discussed  the  matter  with  the  crockery,  the 
fact  '}•'   the  brute  thinks  he  has  dismissed  me." 

"  G  Edward,  he  will  not  persist  in  that,  surely. 
Won't  he  reconsider?     He  can  never  replace  you." 

"  He  will  have  no  opportunity  of  reconsideration  ;  I 
have  resigned  from  his  service.  You  remember  that 
new  place  on  Sixth  Avenue  where  you  bought  some 
things  the  other  week,  and  liked  both  material  and  the 
price?  Well,  by  a  curious  coincidence,  I  fell  in  with  the 
proprietor  to-day,  quite  a  young  man,  but  with  some 
wonderful  ideas  about  business.  He  made  me  an  oflfer 
and  I  accepted  it.  There  is  some  scope  for  me  at  that 
place,  while  I've  reached  the  limit  at  Cowan's.  I'm  to 
get  five  thousand  dollars  a  year." 

"Five — thousand — dollars!"  murmured  Mrs.  Holder- 
ness,  dwelling  on  each  word.     The  possibilities  of  such 
a  sum  seemed  illimitable. 
25 


."iHifly. .•.  ■t<.«psiw«i-- 


■^M5.r-ir«-i«<i)P---'^«:-flli*^r3«W 


CHAPTER    X 


HER    HAIR    IS    AUBURN 


The  fierce  campaign  in  the  wreckage  room  always  set 
Edward  Holderness  right  for  twenty-four  hours.  It 
eliminated  the  fusil  oil  from  his  nature  for  the  time  being. 

He  was  early  at  his  new  sphere  of  activity  on  Sixth 
Avenue  next  morning,  and  employed  the  first  period  of 
his  day  in  rearranging  the  display  of  goods,  adding  artis- 
tic touches  to  the  exhibits  in  the  windows,  and  Mc- 
Allister, watching  the  eflforts  of  his  latest  employee,  saw 
that  here  indeed  was  supplied  the  missing  element  in  the 
store.  The  display  began  to  take  on  an  attractiveness 
that  was  irresistible.  r>en  re-entered  the  place  after  a 
parade  along  the  pavement,  during  which  he  looked  at 
the  windows.  He  was  aglow  with  enthusiasm,  rubbing 
his  hands  one  over  the  other  in  boyish  glee. 

"  By  smoke,  Holderness,  you're  a  genius.  You  make 
me  want  to  come  into  my  own  store  and  buy  my  own 
goods." 

"  I  trust  the  public  will  be  affected  in  the  same  way, 
Mr.  McAllister,"  said  Holderness  deferent'ally. 

"  That  man's  a  jewel !  "  cried  Ben  to  his  partner  in  the 
inner  office. 

"  Naturally,"  replied  Monro,  "  seeing  that  he  comes 
from  the  leading  jewellery  store  of  Xew  York.  ' 

"  Jim,  that's  unworthy  of  you.  All  the  same  I'm  glad 
to  hear  you  talk  flippantly,  for  it  shows  you  are  in  better 
spirits  than  you  were  yesterday." 

"  I  couldn't  well  be  in  worse." 

"  That's  all  right.  Jimmy,  we've  turned  the  corner 
now." 

*'  We  have  turned  the  comer  so  often  that  it  is  somc- 
386 


A        WL 


*'  Her  hair  is  auburn" 


387 


times  a  little  discouraging.  There  always  seems  to  be 
another  corner  just  beyond.' 

"  Don't  you  fret  about  that,  my  boy.  Look  at  the 
crowds  outside  before  those  windows  already.  People 
will  be  trooping  in  here  before  long." 

"  I  hope  they'll  hurry." 

"  They  will,  Jimmy,  they  will.  '  Fear  not.  but  trust 
in  Providence,  wherever  thou  mayst  be,'  as  the  poem 
says." 

Monro  was  industriously  absorbed  in  his  accounts, 
bending  over  his  desk.  McAllister,  never  able  to  sit  still 
for  long  at  a  time,  had  thrust  his  hands  deep  in  his  trou- 
sers pockets,  and  was  standing  looking  through  the  glass 
partition  at  the  buyers. 

"  By  Jove,  Jim,  if  you've  any  doubt  about  the  value  of 
Holdcrness,  just  see  the  way  he  is  receiving  this  Fifth 
Avenue  belle  with  the  air  of  a  court  chamberlain !  " 

"  I  never  had  any  doubt  of  the  value  of  Holderncss — if 
we  can  only  pay  him,"  replied  Monro,  without  glancing 
up. 

"  Don't  croak,  Jimmy.  I  say,  she  is  a  superb  girl. 
She  deserves  the  treatment  of  a  princess,  and  she's 
getting  it,  too.  My  stars,  where  have  I  seen  that  young 
woman  before?     Red  hair — " 

"  Bronze,"  said  Jim,  automatically  starting  to  his  feet. 

"Aha!  1  remember  now.  That's  the  maid  of  the  ^lon- 
treal  mountain.  Miss  Van  Xess  is  the  name,  isn't  it? 
Jim,  introduce  me." 

"  ril  do  nothing  of  the  sort  I  don't  know  her  well 
enough  to  take  such  a  liberty.  I'esides,  my  place  is  in 
the  counting  room  at  the  present  moment." 

"Then  why  don't  you  get  along  with  \our  work  ? 
What  are  you  standing  here  for,  staring  at  our  lady  cus- 
tomers? Jimmy,  Fm  amazed  at  you.  Iloweve'",  I 
know  her  father.  We've  )een  in  railway  deals  together. 
Fll  go  down  and  introduce  myself." 

"  I  wish  you  wouldn't."  entreated  his  partner,  earnest- 
ly. But  *he  volatile  McAllister  ws  already  threading 
his  wa  ig  the  lane    'letween  the  heaps  of  merchan' 


2i3?5gL  ■  • 


5; 


ii 


388 


The  Victors 


disc.  Holderness  stepped  respectfully  aside  as  he  saw 
his  chief  approach  with  a  genial  smile  on  his  face. 

*'  Miss  Van  Ness,  I  have  some  slight  acquaintance  with 
your  father,  so  I  take  the  liberty  of  payintj  my  respects 
to  you  on  the  occasion  of  what  1  suppose  to  be  your  first 
visit  to  our  establishment." 

"  Oh,  you  know  my  father?  But  how  did  you  come  to 
recognise  me  ?  " 

"  Well,  to  tell  the  truth,  my  partner  has  met  you  on  one 
or  two  occasions.  He  is  such  a  self-effacing  fellow  that 
he  thought  this  did  not  entitle  him  to  give  me  an  intro- 
duction, so  I've  come  to  introduce  myself.' 

"  Your  partner  ?  " 

"  Yes,  James  Monro.'' 

"  Oh,  is  he  your  partner?  "  Miss  Van  Ness  smiled  and 
looked  about  her  with  visibly  increased  interest.  "  The 
last  time  1  met  him  he  was  engaged  with  a  friend  in  some 
engineering  project  down  South." 

"  I  was  that  friend.  We  were  running  a  line  of  rail- 
way." 

"  Really  ?  What  a  versatile  pair  you  are !  Then  in 
the  wilds  of  North  Carolina,  now  in  the  centre  of  New 
York." 

"  Same  business  exactly.  Miss  Van  Ness.  Blazing 
our  way  to  fortune  through  an  unknown  country  in 
both  instances." 

The  young  woman  laughed. 

"  W'cll.  I  hope  you  will  succeed."  she  said. 

"  Bound  to  succeed,"  he  replied  jauntily,  "  when  we 
have  the  goodivill  of  IMiss  Van  Ness  and  the  talented 
aisistance  of  Mr.  Holderness." 

The  girl  responded  in  the  same  airy  spirit. 

"  You  must  not  forget  the  sterling  qualities  of  your 
partner  and  your  own  very  evident  enterprise." 

"  That's  so.  Jimmy  overlooks  these  things,  but  I 
never  do.  ',v''on't  you  come  in  and  see  him?  We  keep 
Jimmy  in  that  glass  cage  in  the  corner." 

Again  Miss  Van  Ness  laughed  with  musical  cadence, 
and  whenever  she  did   so  Holderness  smiled  in  defer- 


-■^/.Sr 


"  Her  hair  is  auburn  " 


389 


ential  sympathy.  She  had  quite  made  up  her  mind  not 
to  go  to  the  "  cage,"  but  she  was  ignorant  of  the  mag- 
netic influence  which  McAlhster  unconsciously  exercised 
over  every  one  who  approached  him.  .Against  all  inclina- 
tion her  purpose  was  swept  aside  by  the  resistless  cntiui- 
siasm  of  a  determined  man. 

"  I  think,  Jimmy,  as  you  call  him,  might  inore  properlv 
have  come  to  see  me  if  he  knew  I  was  here." 

Ah,  Miss  \an  Xess,  you  are  far  from  ai)preciating 
his  retiring  disposition.  I  am  supposed  to  be  the  chief 
of  the  concern,  so  he  sends  me.  on  the  principle  that  a 
princess  must  be  received  by  the  highest  in  office." 

"  Oh.  if  that  is  the  case,  and  if  his  seeming  neglect  is 
merely  a  compliment  in  disguise,  I  shall  be  delighted  to 
look  through  the  bars  of  the  cage  at  least." 

"  That's  first-rate.  Miss  Van  Xess.  This  wav,  please. 
Come  right  along.     Xo  charge  for  admission."  ' 

The  girl  followed  him,  an  amused  smile  plaving  about 
the  comers  of  her  alluring  lips.  Monro  was  standing 
when  they  came  in,  awaiting  them.  She  held  out  her 
hand. 

"  The  mountain  would  not  come  to  Mahomet,"  she 
said. 

"  The  mountain  had  no  idea  it  would  be  accorded  the 
privilege  of  approach,"  replied  Tim. 

"  Talking  of  Montreal,  eh  ?  "  struck  in  McAllister,  who 
had  not  caught  the  drift  of  the  allusion.  "  Why,  that's 
where  I  first  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  vou.  on  the  moun- 
tain, as  they  call  it.  Won't  vou  sit  down.  IVIiss  Van 
Xess  ?  " 

"  Thank  you,  no.  Afternoon  calls  are  brief,  as  vou  are 
aware,  and  I  must  not  interrupt  the  blazing  of  the  way 
to  fortune."  The  giri  spoke  rapidly,  as  if  to  cover  a 
trace  of  confusion  shown  by  the  pretty  flush  of  the  cheeks 
which  greeted  his  mention  of  the  northern  city. 

Jim  cast  a  glance  at  his  partner,  who  was  all  uncon- 
scious of  saying  anything  disturbing. 

"  I  hope  Mr.  McAllister  has  not  been  advertising  his 
wares."  said  Monro,  hurriedly.  "Blazing  the  wav  to 
fortune  sounds  like  one  cf  his  phrases." 


'■:M*  *'■■ 


^N^PW^ 


390 


The  Victors 


I  ft  ii  V 


i: 


"  That's  just  what  it  is.  Oh,  yes,  he  has  been  advertis- 
ing^ the  business  and  boastinj;  f;reatly  about  his  partner. 
He  said  some  very  nice  thintjs  of  you,  Mr.  Monro.  I 
hope  you  value  properly  so  appreciative  a  colleague." 

"  Of  course  he  doesn't.  Miss  \'an  Ness,"  broke  in  Mc- 
Allister, before  the  person  addressed  could  reply.  "  It  is 
the  prophet  and  his  house  over  again.  I'ut  I'm  going  to 
make  the  fortunes  of  Jimmy  and  every  one  else  who  is 
associated  with  me,  see  if  I  don't.  Why.  the  possibilitios 
in  a  business  like  this  are  something  so  enormous,  on  the 
lines  we've  laid  down,  that  a  mere — " 

"  Now.  P>en  ;  now,  Ben.  Stick  to  the  ancient  prophets 
and  leave  the  financial  profits  alone." 

"  That's  the  way  my  enthusiasm  is  treated,  Miss  Van 
Ness,"  protested  Hen.  "  You  wouldn't  suspect  Jim  of 
such  a  remark,  but  he's  making  them  all  the  time.  Talk 
about  business  worries — you  have  now  .some  notion  of 
what  I  am  called  on  to  put  up  with." 

"  Ben  never  knows  when  to  stop  when  he  begins  on 
business,"  said  Jim,  "  and  it's  getting  to  be  ♦.  le  only 
subject  on  which  he  can  converse." 

"  Indeed  you  seem  to  me  like  two  boys  having  a  lark. 
In  spite  of  this  large  place,  which  might  have  sprung 
from  Aladdin's  lamp,  and  notwithstanding  the  dignified 
presence  of  your  floorwalker,  I  find  it  impossible  to  take 
you  seriously.  I  expect  to  come  down  Sixth  Avenue 
some  day  and  learn  that  the  place  has  all  disappeared  in 
a  night." 

"  Indeed,  it  is  more  than  likely,"  admitted  Jim  grimly. 
*■  I  can  assure  you.  Miss  \'an  Ness,  I  have  no  difficulty 
in  taking  the  situation  seriously  enough  at  times.'' 

The  girl  looked  at  him  musingly. 

"  Yes,  I  can  see  that,"  slie  said  w-ith  slow  deliberation. 
"  You  are  more  worried  than  you  were  when  I  met  you 
on  horseback  in  North  Carolina.  But  I  will  give  you  a 
good  omen.  Do  you  know  the  fate  of  the  line  you  ran 
from  the  plains  to  the  mountains?  " 

"  Oh,  that  was  a  bogus  line,''  said  McAllister.  "  It  was 
never  intended  to  amount  to  anything,  although  we  did 
not  know  the  fact  at  the  time." 


W'k 


"  Her  hair  is  auburn  " 


391 


"It  is  anything  hut  a  hoj^us  line.  The  n.ad  is  now 
nearly  completed;  rij,'ht  alonjj  your  survev,  too.  My 
father  hopes  to  he  down  at  the  op'enin.i,'  short'lv.  hi  fore  he 
goes  to  Europe.     So  you  see  your  work  was  not  wasted." 

"  1  hope  you  are  not  going  to  Europe,"  said  l!en  in  such 
earnest  tones  that  Jim  glanced  at  him  with  some  disap- 
proval, and  the  girl  tinkled  out  a  little  laugh  like  a  silver 
chime. 

"No.  This  is  to  he  a  hurried  trip;  just  over  and 
hack,  as  is  the  way  with  railway  men.     Why?  " 

"  Well,  you  see  I  look  on  you  as  the  good  angel  of  the 
firm.  You  needn't  frown,  jim ;  it's  so.  The  first  time 
I  saw  you  we  made  a  contract  for  that  surveying,  which 
was  greatly  to  our  advantage.  The  next  tin'ie  Jim  saw 
you.  and  hecause  he  saw  you  we  made  a  deal—" 

"Excuse  me.  P.en,  Inu  all  this  cannot  interest  Miss 
Van  Ness.     Besides  you  know — " 

*'  Oh.  but  it  does,"  laughed  the  voung  woman.  "  It 
isn't  every  day  that  one  is  called  a  go;ul  angel.  Men  are 
too  busy  to  say  such  things  in  New  York.  It  is  easy  to 
see  you  are  from  the  West.  Mr.  McAllister,  and  youim- 
derstand  women  much  better  tlian  does  vour  partner.  I 
think  he  underestimates  their  capacity  for  receiving  flat- 
tery. Do  go  on  with  the  pretty  talk,  as  a  story  mv  father 
tells  has  it."  '  '      ' 

"  I  think,  Jim.  you  had  better  leave  the  room  or  quit  in- 
terrupting a  man  when  he  is  eloquent.  Nothing  is  more 
destructive  to  true  oratory  than  tmtimely  interpellation. 
Hesides  this,  you  know  every  word  I  said  is  true.  Miss 
\an  Ness  has  always  appeared  to  us  like  the  fairy  with 
her  magic  wand,  and  immediately — " 

"  Really,  after  such  a  com])arison  as  that  I  must  go, 
Mr.  McAllister.  I  cannot  run  the  risk  of  having  it  im- 
paired by  the  addition  of  another  word.  Most  earnestly 
I  wish  you  every  success." 

"  Oh,  we're  hotmd  to  •succeed— hotc/'  he  cried  confi- 
dently. v/;th  a  gesture  that  would  have  pushed  his  hat 
further  back  if  it  had  been  on  his  head. 

"  Thank  you.   Mr.   McAllister.     Your  accent  on  the 


392 


The  Victors 


t 

i  s 


li' 


!i   i 


*  now  ■  is  the  very  frajj^rancc  of  adulation.  Xo.  Neither 
of  ycni  must  come  to  the  door  with  me.  I  insist.  I  have 
already  j^rcatly  intorruj)tcd,  which  a  presiding  genius 
should  never  tlo.  I'here  should  be  but  a  wave  of  the 
wand,  then  away.  Fairies  always  respect  the  motto, 
'  This  is  my  busy  day."  Hcsides,  1  want  to  have  a  quiet 
word  with  the  polite  Hourwalker  which  must  not  bo  over- 
heard by  the  i)roprietors." 

"Oh,  you  mean  Holdcrncss ;  he  is  a  proprietor,  too, 
who  came  m  with  his  cash  just  at  the  nick  of — " 

'*  I'.en!"  warned  Irs  partner. 

"  Why,  what  am  I  saying  now ?  "  asked  the  bewildered 
McAllister. 

"  Goodness  only  knows,  and  I'm  sure  yuu  don't." 

Miss  Van  Ness  bestowed  a  m'schievous  glance  upon 
the  p'-'.    irbed  Monro,  and  laughed  merrily. 

"  Toe.  Mr.  Monro  does  not  trust  his  mentor  from  the 
enchanted  land.  lie  fears  the  secrets  of  his  house  will 
get  abroad  on  Fifth  Avenue.  I  half  think  he  is  right, 
Mr.  McAllister.  Never  tell  too  much.  That's  a  motto 
in  tiie  railway  business,  which  is  applicable  elsewhere. 
Fairies  are  fearful  whisperers.  And  now  finally  good 
afternoon  to  both  of  you,  and  the  best  of  luck." 

Monro  went  back  to  his  desk,  but  McAllister  stood 
looking  through  the  glass  panes  at  the  graceful  figure 
making  its  way  toward  the  hastening  Holdcrness.  What- 
ever suggestions  she  was  pleased  to  impart  were  received 
by  a  verv  statue  of  respectful  attention.  Then  the  de- 
corous Holdcrncss  saw  her  to  the  door  with  an  attitude 
which  said  more  plainly  than  words  that  he  was  the  most 
highly  honoured  man  in  America. 

"  Sav,  Jim." 

"Well?" 

"  Are  you  in  love  with  that  girl?" 

"  Really.  McAllister,  you  sometimes  say  things  that 
grate — " 

"  Are  you.  are  you,  are  yuu?  " 

"  Certainly  not." 

"  Then  you're  a  fool," 


CHAITER    XI 


SWEKT     Hl'SUAM),     IIIC     NOT    Ol-     THAT     MINI) 


On  one  of  those  occasions  when  the  hu>^iness  outlook 
was  particularly  j^'loomy  McAllister  resolved  to  (luit  the 
ex{x'nsive  boarding-house  on  Madison  Avenue  and  take 
rooms  on  a  cross-to><n  street  further  u|)  the  island,  the 
name  of  which  thorouj,difare  was  desij^nateil  hy  two  larj^^e 
numerals.  One  peculiarity  of  his  huoyant  nature  kept 
him  ever  from  acknowledfrinj,'  defeat,  even  when  he  lay 
on  his  back,  with  the  hard  knee  of  fate  pressinj,'  down 
on  his  breast.  He  was  prone  for  the  moment  merely  to 
take  a  rest ;  by-and-by  fate  would  be  overthrown,  w  ith 
firm  hands  dutchinj;  its  throat. 

So  with  the  removal.  In  similar  circumstances  Monro 
would  have  said  simply,  "  I  am  sfoinjT  up-town  because  it 
is  cheaper  to  live  there."  Mc.Mlister  j^filded  the  event 
with  the  alchemy  of  his  own  transforminjT  imajrination, 
as  the  after-glow  illumines  the  cold,  forbiddin£j  Alp  into 
a  roseate  paradise.  Constance  was  lookinj:?  pale  and 
wan.  The  air  of  the  upper  island  would  be  better  for 
her  than  the  denser  atmosphere  of  the  lower  city.  They 
would  have  more  freedom  in  rooms  of  their  own.  They 
could  eat  what  they  liked  and  when  they  liked.  There 
would  be  less  restraint  concerning  dress.  Connie  could 
come  down-town  now  and  then  and  lunch  with  him.  He 
ended  by  being  convinced  that,  even  were  the  cost  ten 
times  as  great,  the  proposed  shifting  would  be  worth 
the  extra  price.  He  bad  some  doubt  regarding  the  view 
his  wife  might  take  of  the  change.  The  Madison  .Avenue 
private  hotel  was  so  obviously  the  most  desirable  kind  of 
home  for  a  woman  heretofore  unaccustomed  to  anything 
so  grand.    The  stately  promenade  of  Fifth  Avenue  was 

393 


394 


The  Victors 


i 


ifi  r  ! 


ri 


Bl^ 


i 


next  (li)or.  as  one  mi^jlit  sa\ .  and  ihv  j^littcrinp  array  of 
splendid  shops  on  l'.n)a<lvva>  Imt  a  short  two  blocks  dis- 
tant. What  more  could  a  woman  desire?  I'efore 
broachinfj  the  subject  he  fortified  him>*elf  with  ar;;ument 
and  determined  to  fall  back  on  persuasion  should  arjju- 
ment  fail. 

He  was  therefore  (juitc  unprepared   for  the  prompt 
acquiescence    that  met    his    expressed    wish,    somewhat 
entatively  put  forth.     She  accepted  with  a  shuddering 
plec  that  disconcerted  her  wonderinj^r  husband. 

"  Why,  Connie,  I  thought  you  liked  this  place.  It  is 
one  of  the  most  fa'  lionable  and  expensive  boarding- 
houses  in  Xew  York." 

"  I  loathe  it,"  cried  Constance  with  an  emphasis  that 
left  no  doubt  of  her  sincerity. 

"  Then  why  didn't  you  say  so  long  ago?  " 

"  I  did  not  want  to  interfere  with  your  work.  It  was 
close  to  your  place  of  business  and  I  thought  it  con- 
venient for  you. 

"Convenient?  Well,  it  isn't  so  awful  convenient. 
There's  no  cross-town  street  car  within  three  blocks." 

"  You  don't  need  a  street  car.  The  distance  i--  or\  a 
few  hundred  yards." 

"  Oh,  that's  all  very  well,  but  walking  is  a  waste  of 
time.  When  a  man  is  hanging  on  to  a  strap  in  a 
crowded  street  car  he  feels  that  he's  with  the  procession. 
I'd  sooner  come  down  from  Central  Park  in  a  car  than 
walk  four  blocks." 

"  I  have  thought  for  a  long  time  that  we  are  simply 
throwing  away  money  here.  You  are  paying  high  for 
meals  you  never  eat.  We  shall  have  the  consolation  of 
knowing  that  if  you  don't  come  home  to  lunch  and  din- 
ner you  are  at  least  not  paying  double." 

"Oh.  I'm  not  moving  up-town  from  notions  of  econ- 
omy. I  don't  m'nd  the  price  if  you're  satisfied.  What 
a  thing  costs  is  a  mere  triviality.  I  believe  in  living  to- 
day as  if  I  were  to  be  a  m"llionaire  to-morrow.  Then 
when  vou  become  a  millionaire  there's  the  consolation  of 
having  lived  well  while  you  were  reaching  that  point.     I 


"Sweet  husband,  be  not  of  that  mind  "    395 

have  no  sympathy  with  thor  u-llnws  who  j,m  rich  l)y 
saving'.      Ihink  ..r  the  .lays  1  ov  waste  in  p.-vniv  when 
tliey    iniK'ht  have    hecn  feedin-  on  the  fat    of  the    land 
bpeiid  lavishly  and  make  more  lavishlv.  is  mv  niutto. " 
"  l!ut  what  if  ymi  fail  to  heoonie  rich?" 
"I  sha'n't  fail.     I  never  think  of  that.     Still,  if  F  did 
I  should  have  the  satisfaction  of  knowing'  I   had  lived' 
hke  a  milhona  re.  even   if  I   never  hecaiiic  <mv.     Don't 
yon  heheve  in  having'  a  j:,'ood  time  as  wc  go  alone?" 
"  1  es,  I  do." 

..."•'i'!  ;''•'•  ^^'^•''■t'  truo  Iwishand  an<l  wife,  Conn-e 
Ue  think  alike,  and  that's  as  it  should  he." 

"  lin  not  sure  that  having'  a  froo.j  time  as  we  iro  alom: 
<Iepen.ls  entirely  on  money." 

"Of  course  not.  hut.  then,  monev  is  the  most  important 
niRTedient.  1  tell  you  what  it  is.  mv  i,nrl,  lack  of  cash  in 
New  York  is  no  joke.  You'd  s.nm  realise  that  if  sup- 
phes  ran  short." 

'[  f  si'PP'^^f  that  is  true  anywhere." 

"  Certainly,  hut  n.nvhere  is  it  so  true  as  in  this  little 
villa«t;;  p^rowinj,'  truer  every  dav,  too." 

It  must  have  heen  a  p^reat  shock  to  the  first  man  when 
the  hrst  woman  for  the  first  time  contradi'-t-j  hjn,  [^  j, 
prohahle  that,  for  a  moment,  he  lost  faith  in  the  "correct 
halance  of  the  universe,  which  hitherto  he  had  regarded 
as  perfect.  Most  likely  he  convinced  the  woman  she  was 
wron-  (with  a  cluh).  Perhaps  the  woman  tlms  learned 
caution  and  dissimulation.  The  jjift  of  reticence  has 
therefore,  heen  handed  on  fn^ii  woman  to  woman  for  her 
protect-on.  and  man.  beinq-  an  unnhservant  animal  has 
almost  invariably  credited  her  with  the  possession  of 
volubility. 

Marrias:e  had  been  a  deep  disappointment  to  Constance 
McAllister.  ^  Instead  of  findin.cr  a  husband,  she  had  lost 
a  lover.  Whatever  P.en's  deficiencies  miq-ht  have  been, 
there  was  little  lack  of  assiduity  with  an  object  to  be 
.crained.  As  a  suitor,  no  fault  could  have  been  found 
with  him.  TTc  wanted  Constance  and  apparently  wanterl 
her  more  than  anythingr  else  on  earth.     \\'hatcver  he  did 


I*  '^ye»R 


ir.l  i'Mt iKi'  'Vll' 


■ST" 


396 


The  Victors 


■    J I 


i 


JilllEil 


l^TSM": 


1 

1 

i 

:j 

•^ 

i 

1 

1 

1 

.       ii 

he  did  with  all  his  mij^^ht,  following  the  scriptur?.!  injunc- 
tion he  so  often  ([uotcd.  But  the  goal  once  attained,  all 
interest  seemed  to  vanish.     He  had  caught  his  car. 

"  My  time's  worth  a  dollar  a  minute,"  was  another  fa- 
vourite expression  of  his,  '"  and  before  long  I'll  make  it 
worth  a  dollar  a  second." 

"  Take  care  your  time  docs  not  become  so  valuable  that 
youll  find  it  too  expensive  to  live,"  said  Constance  once, 
and  Den  had  laughed  good-naturedly,  considering  the  re- 
mark fair  repartee,  but  it  conveyed  no  warning  to  him. 

Constance  had  pictured  marriage  as  a  union  of 
thought,  of  interest,  perhaps  even  of  employmen'  fhe 
had  fancied  delightful  lingering  farewells  each  'rning 
as  he  went  to  his  work,  or  it  might  be  a  stroll  h  him 
down-town  on  his  way  to  business ;  but  you  cannot  linger 
with  a  man  who  is  breathless  to  be  oft  or  stroll  with  one 
who  is  racing  for  a  car,  whose  pulses  are  beating  "  a  dol- 
lar a  minute,  a  dollar  a  minute." 

In  the  morning  his  attention  seemed  strained  to  catch 
the  sound  of  the  street-car  bell.  The  jingle  of  a  spoon 
in  a  saucer  made  him  start.  It  was  late  at  night  when  he 
came  home,  silent  and  dog-tired,  an  exhausted  storage 
battery,  with  scant  time  between  that  hour  and  daylight 
for  the  refilling  of  the  cells  with  electricity. 

He  became  more  and  more  unable  to  converse  on  any 
subject  but  one.  Nothing  else  interested  him.  Let  the 
talk  drift  outside  the  immediate  radius  of  business,  and 
his  engrossed  eyes  showed  that  they  saw  only  the  absent 
activities  of  the  store. 

More  and  more  Constance  came  to  wonder  why  he  had 
married  her.  She  filled  no  long-felt  want  in  his  nature, 
so  far  as  she  was  able  to  discern.  The  word  "  home  " 
had  no  tangible  meaning  for  him.  She  became  convinced 
that  if  he  had  known  what  was  before  him  he  would 
never  have  married,  could  he  have  spared  time  from  his 
really  important  affairs  to  give  the  problem  any  consider- 
ation. What  he  needed  was  an  open-all-night  hotel,  close 
to  his  business,  with  a  swift  unceasing  elevator  to  take 
him  speedily  to  and  from  his  room;  a  meal-at-all-hours' 


"  Sweet  Iiusb.ijid,  be  not  of  th:it  mind  "    397 

house,  with  a  stand-up.  quick-lunch  counter  attached.  A 
home  in  the  nortliern  j  -irtion  of  the  city  was  merely  an 
incunil)rancc  to  sue'  a  :i:-ii..  ;.  time-vaster,  and  she  w.^i- 
dered  he  remember  u  even  ii?  e.\i:  tence. 

In  distant  lUinc  ,  .she  had  h,  d  many  friends;  in  this 
hurrying  city  not  e\^  -i  >n  i.-qua.ntance.  with  less  and  less 
desire  as  time  went  on  to  form  any  scxial  relations. 
The  infrequent  letters  from  f.inr.er  ciuiipeers  were  a 
solace,  not  unmixed  with  sadness,  hui  when  thev  ceased 
she  scarcely  regretted  their  stoppage.  She  remeiiihered 
that  once— it  seemed  as  long  ago  as  the  West  was  re- 
mote— she  had  feared  to  brave  the  opinion  of  these  peo- 
1)le  by  a  runaway  marriage.  Kow  she  realised  of  what 
small  importance  would  iiave  been  anything  they  might 
have  said.  Sometimes  she  felt  an  impulse  to  cry  out 
against  this  uncompanionable  existence,  but  a  moment's 
reflection  showed  the  hopelessness  of  |)rotest.  The  in- 
herited gift  of  reticence  also  kept  her  silent.  Gmipanion- 
ship  is  a  boon  which  to  be  of  value  must  come  unsought. 
She  could  not  beg  for  what  should  have  been  her  own 
by  right.  Then  she  knew  intuitively  that  anything  she 
might  say  would  make  no  impression  on  the  mind  of  a 
man  who  had  caught  his  car  and  need  not  worry  any 
more  about  that  particular  achievement.  The  slight  ten- 
tative advances  she  put  forth  had  not  been  successful. 

Once,  in  sunmier,  when  the  days  were  long,  but  still 
too  short  for  him,  she  said : 

"  I'en,  the  night  boat  for  Albany  leaves  at  six  o'clock. 
Couldn't  you  quit  business  one  day  before  that  hour  and 
take  the  steamer  w^Hi  me.  sav  as  far  as  Cornwall,  or 
wherever  it  sto^is?  We  could  dine  leisurely  on  board,  and 
either  stay  at  Cornwall  all  night  or  come  back  that  even- 
ing by  late  train  or  boat  ?  " 

Ben's  eyes  opened  wide  at  such  an  unbusinesslike  pro- 
posal, and  a  spark  of  angCr  glinted  in  them  for  a  mo- 
ment ;  women  are  so  exacting  and  unthinking ;  but  his  ex- 
pression softened  almost  instantly  and  beamed  sympathy 
upon  her. 
"  Why,  Connie,  that's  not  a  bad  idea  when  the  weather 


\ 


t 


398 


The  Victors 


is  so  hot.  I  wish  you'd  do  that.  I  want  you  to  have  a: 
good  time,  and  I'm  hound  you  shall  have  it.  You  go. 
Any  evening  you  want  to.  Only  let  me  know  and  I 
won't  bother  coming  home  that  night.  I  tell  you,  girl,  I'd 
like  to  go  with  you,  but  can't  just  now.  We're  in  a  sort 
of  a  crisis  down-town,  and  I'm  the  man  at  the  wheel." 

His  phrase  about  not  "  bothering  "  to  come  home  stuck 
like  a  burr  in  her  mind.  She  made  no  more  suggestions 
of  this  kind,  nor  did  she  take  the  night  boat. 

It  may  be  supposed  that  a  man  so  thoroughly  religious 
as  McAllisterwould  have  been  a  constant  church-goer,  but 
such  was  not  the  case.  He  never  went  to  church,  nor 
did  he  feel  the  need  of  it.  He  no  more  thought  of  attend- 
ing service  than  of  connecting  himself  with  a  night  school 
and  redemonsttating  the  problems  of  Euclid.  He  knew 
that  every  proposition  in  Euclid  could  be  proven,  so 
where  was  the  practical  advantage  of  going  over  the 
ground  again  ?  Nothing  any  preacher  in  New  York 
might  say  could  add  to  his  already  overwhelming  faith. 
Besides,  his  relations  with  his  ATakcr  were  too  intimate 
and  direct  for  him  to  accept  any  mere  human  intervention. 
It  was  one  of  his  principles  in  business  never  to  deal  with 
a  subordinate  when  he  might  hold  communication  with 
the  head  of  the  firm ;  then,  when  a  matter  was  settled,  no 
readjustment  was  necessary.  In  religion  likewise.  McAl- 
lister always  went  to  headquarters,  and  the  church  he 
looked  upon  as  a  mere  sub-agency.  Sunday  was  to  him 
literally  a  day  of  rest;  a  day  to  arise  late;  a  day  when  it 
was  not  necessary  to  put  on  a  stiff  collar ;  a  day  when  it 
was  better,  perhaps,  not  to  think  of  business,  yet,  as  the 
Lord  was  a  partner,  these  thoughts  need  not  be  excluded. 

Constance  yearned  for  the  church ;  at  first  went  alone, 
but  was  even  m<ire  solitary  there  than  elsewhere,  and 
so  ceased  her  visits.  Then  Sunday  was  a  day  when 
there  was  an  opportunity  of  talking  unhurriedly  with  her 
husband — if  he  chanced  to  be  awake. 

Every  night  she  waited  up  for  him,  often  so  late  that 
the  roar  of  New  York  ceased  for  the  time,  followed  by 
an  uneasy  silence,  ripped  apart  now  and  then  by  the 


'J'«, J 


'  dUAi%''  '«BtrMHll"W 


"Sweet  'husband,  be  not  of  that  mind  "    399 

wheels  of  a  '  lated  cab;  a  silcncL-  that  seemed  to  come 
grudgmgly  upon  the  great  citv.  as  of  time  lost  by 
compulsion.  Attired  for  the  night,  with  a  shawl  about 
her  shoulders,  there  she  sat  thinking,  thinking  bv  the 
open  window  until  her  pathetic  reverie  was  broken  by 
the  quick,  nervous  stop  she  listened  for;  whereupon 
she  slipped  into  bed  and  was  seemingly  fast  asleep  when 
Ben  came  in,  stealing  softly  that  he  might  not 
disturb  her.  He  slept  quickly,  she  tardilv,  often  the  grey 
daylight  finding  her  eyes  unclosed.  Usuallv  he  lay  like 
one  dead,  thoroughly  exhausted,  but  sometiiiies  the  prob- 
lems of  the  day  importuned  the  slumbering  braiii,  tor- 
menting for  solution,  and  he  muttered  with  inquietude. 

It  would  have  been  some  consolation  if  during  uncon- 
sciousness her  name  had  ever  been  murmured,  but  even 
this  slight  comfort  was  denied  her.  In  the  stillness  of 
the  night  she  might  hear,  and  sink  back  with  a  sigh : 

"It's  ail  right,  Jimmy.  Don't  vou  worrv.  I'll— I'll 
get  the  money.     It'll  be  here — before  we  need  it." 


i  ! 


il'i 


-,  «,^  y:.  .•  iat:  •*;3>  <■. .' 


CHAPTER    XII 


i; 


"there  is  money;  spend  n. 

If  anv  one  of  the  tlironj:::  passin":  along  the  pavement 
that  bordered  Sixth  Avenue  had  cast  a  glance  at  Grace 
Van  Ness  daintily  stepping  into  her  well-appointed  car- 
riage, the  door  held  open  by  a  footman  with  finger  at  the 
brim  of  his  hat,  the  pedestrian  might  have  said  that  here 
at  least  was  one  who  had  no  quarrel  with  fortune.     Nev- 
ertheless it  was  a  voung  woman  bitterly  dissatisfied  with 
herself  who  drove'  across  to  Fifth  Avenue  and  up  thr. 
princely  thoroughfare.     Why  had   she  gone   so  tamely 
into  the  glass-lined  office?     the  pronounced  embarrass- 
ment of  Monro  had  given  point  to  the  knowing  glances 
of  his  partner,  which  the  latter  had  not  the  delicacy  to 
conceal.    The  two,  each  in  his  own  way,  had  placed  her 
in  the  position  of  the  pursuer,  an  attitude  not  only  en- 
tirely foreign  to  her.  of  all  people,  but  extremelv  dis- 
tasteful.    She  had  thoughtlesslv  allowed  herself  to  be 
swept  into  the  office  bv  McAllister's  exuberant  insistence, 
when   she  should  have  declined  the  invitation  and  left 
Monro  to  make  the  advance  if  he  cared  to  do  so.     She 
had  been  over-friendlv,  and  now  that  it  was  too  late  re- 
proached  herself    for'  her    impulsive   action.      The   two 
were  probably  discussing  her  at  that  moment,   lookmg 
upon   her  as"  a   good   and    influential   customer   gained. 
Chance  had  thrown  Monro  and  herself  together  twice; 
chance  aided  bv  her  own  impetuosity  had  brought  about 
a  third  meeting,  and  McAllister  had,  in  her  very  pres- 
ence,  balanced   the   profit    and   loss   of   the   encounters. 
The  situation  was  revolting,  and  she  came  to  a  determi- 
nation that  should  she  ever  converse  with  Monro  again 
her  own  coldness  would  disillusionise  th-  yning  man.  if 
he  presumed  upon  her  supposed  preference.   Still  he  was 
400 


TSShST 


"There  is  money  ;  spend  it"  401 

unlikely  to  do  that,  and  she  shuddered  as  she  thoufrht  he 
mijrht  imaj2^ine  she  was  actuallv  encuuragiii;,'  him''  Siie 
laughed  scornfully  to  herself  at  this  reflection ;  it  SLcmeJ 
ahsurd.  yet  could  she  be  but  sure  that  he  entertained 
such  an  idea,  her  contempt  should  cut  him  like  a  whip 
when  next  they  met.  if  indeed  thev  ever  did  meet,  an 
occurrence  she  would  take  .c:ood  care  to  avoid.  The  new 
store  should  never  see  her  aj-ain ;  she  would  send  a 
cheque  for  the  purchases  made,  and  there  an  end. 

And  now,  illumined  by  this  latest  episode,  her  former 
complaisance  toward  him  assumed  a  new  sii,mificancc, 
and  she  passed  through  a  humiliation  of  niemorv.  con- 
demnin,q-  herself  for  an  unwonted  interest  in  a  stran'vr 
not  even  properly  introduced.  She  blamed  the  mai^ic^of 
the  clear  lake  durin,c^  that  unconventional  morninj^'  walk 
along  Its  silver  shores,  and  then,  with  a  spasm  of  honesty, 
transferred  the  censure  to  her  own  heedless  shoulders.' 
Well,  it  should  be  a  lesson  to  her.  and  a  I)ea:(,n  of  waru- 
ing  for  the  future.  She  would  forget  his  existence,  and 
if  he  remembered  her  what  did  it  matter? 

The  cheque  was  promptly  .^ent.  and  had  she  known 
Its  fate  her  distress  might  perhaps  have  been  mitigated. 
As  a  matter  of  conrse.  the  slij)  of  paper  passed  through 
the  hands  of  James  Monro,  and  he  gazed  long  at  its  sig- 
nature, as  if  questioning  its  worth.  This,  however, 
could  not  have  been  the  case,  for,  looking  about  him  and 
satisfying  himself  that  he  was  alone,  he  took  furtively 
^■rom  his  purse  the  amount  nominated  in  the  bond,  placed 
that  sum  into  the  bait  the  bank  was  to  swallow,  then 
folded  the  cheque  and  pi.t  it  into  his  pocket-book— a 
most  unbusiness-like  transaction,  nowhere  to  be  tlupli- 
cated  in  New  York  that  day,  for  surely  a  draft  is  value- 
less unless  it  is  to  be  cashed. 

The  activity  of  New  York  lends  itself  to  the  art  of 
forgetting.  There  is  much  going  forward  there,  and 
even  a  retentive  memory  has  some  ado  to  hold  its  own. 
Grace  Van  Xess  went  W'est  with  her  father  in  his  private 
car,  and  then  South  to  the  opening  of  the  new  railwav. 
She  saw  him  off  fnr  Europe  and  had  half  a  wish  to 
accompany  him,  but  the  journey  was  to  be  a  hurried  one 
26  ' 


■  i 

H    i 


4U2 


The  Victors 


so  her  voyage  was  postponed  until  a  more  convenient 
season.  These  events  aided  Miss  \'an  Xcss  in  drivinj^ 
from  her  mind  the  disturbing  rememljrance  of  her  visit 
to  the  glass  room  on  Sixth  Avenue.  If  a  stray  thought  of 
Monro  intruded  itself,  she  sent  it  forth  as  an  uninvited 
guest,  and  at  last  came  to  the  conclusion  that  she  was 
finally  rid  of  all  such. 

One  morning  the  unsought  remembrance  was  brought 
sharply  to  her  consciousness.  It  was  not  a  time  when 
visitors  were  to  be  expected,  and  the  girl  sat  in  her  own 
morning  room  at  the  rear  of  the  house,  overlooking  the 
quiet,  green  lawn,  with  a  fountain  sending  up  a  thin  jet 
into  the  air.  The  lOom  was  partly  boudoir,  partly  li- 
brary, partly  study  and  partly  parlour:  an  interesting 
charnber,  not  too  large  to  lose  an  air  of  cosiness ;  not  too 
small  to  be  Overcrowded  by  its  furnishing.  Three  book- 
cases held  favourite  volumes,  while  tempting  easy  chairs 
and  rockers  invited  their  ])erusal.  An  open  rolltop  desk 
in  a  corner  bestowed  an  office  air  to  the  apartment,  while 
a  daintier  daveni)ort.  richly  inlaid,  prettier,  less  con- 
venient and  less  solid,  saggested  the  writing  of  social  in- 
vitations in  contrast  to  the  other's  hint  of  business  docu- 
ments. An  open  window  gave  access  to  a  balcony,  and 
frotn  this  a  flight  of  stejjs  lod  down  to  the  lawn  and  the 
fountain. 

Grace  heard  the  bell  ring,  but  paid  no  heed  to  it.  She 
was  aware  of  a  conference  at  the  door,  then  a  raised  voice 
cried : 

"Gone  to  Europe!     When  will  he  return?" 

The  replv  of  the  servant  was  inaudible. 

"  Is  Miss  Van   Xess  in?" 

Again  the  murmur  of  the  menial,  indistinguishable. 

"Well,  just  find  out,  will  you?  No;  T  haven't  a  card 
with  me.  Say  it's  Mr.  iMcAllister,  and  tell  her  it's  most 
important  I  should  see  her." 

It  needed  no  announcement  of  the  name  to  acquaint 
Grace  Van  Xess  with  the  identity  of  the  caller.  The 
voice  did  that  the  moment  she  heard  it.  She  was  stand- 
ing by  her  desk  when  the  servant  gave  his  message. 

"  I  am  not  at  home."  she  said.  The  servant  turned. 
"  Wait  a  moment.''     A  shade  of  perplexity  clouded  her 


POP" 


.Wfik- 


:jfi«'     s^-  !#i^ 


"  There  is  money  ;  spend  it  "  403 

smooth  brow.  "  Oh.  very  well.-  she  added  at  last.  "  .how 
him  in  here." 

The  voice  which  ranor  so  stridcntlv  thrcmjjh  the  hall 
acciist(Miied  to  sottly  sp.-keii  cadences,' had  in  it  an  under- 
tone of  despair  which  had  appealed,  in  spite  of  herself 
to  the  sirl's  sympathy.     It  was  a  crv  „f  distress    com' 
nionplace  as  wt.e  the  uttered  words. 

When  McAllister  came  in  she  was  stankd  to  see  the 
chan-e  that  had  taken  place  in  his  .•.pp.arance  since  last 
she  met  him.  He  was  thin,  pale  and  lia-i;ard,  with  a 
herce  h,£,dit  in  his  eye  that  savoured  of  insanitv.  \s  he 
came  impulsively  forward,  she  divw  back  initinctivelv 
toward  the  wall,  but  McAllister  did  not  notice  the  shrink- 
iiifi::  he  shook  her  reluctant  hand  with  exec  sive  cor- 
diality I  here  was  a  tremor  almost  of  tears  in  Irs 
voice  when  he  spoke. 

"  Miss  Van  Xess.  .i;  is  more  than  i,n)od  of  v<,u  to  ^ec 
me  when  I  am  practically  a  stran-er  to  vo,,.  l'  will  come 
directly  to  the  point,  for  I  a.ii  sure  vou  are  won.lerin- 
vv^iy  I  called  at  such  an  hour.  Miss  Van  Xess.  vou  are 
he  one  person  m  the  world  to  whom  1  can  turn'  in  mv 
time  of  need,  in  my  hour  f.f  trouble.  I  am  on  the  -erv 
verge  of  bankruptcy.  If  I  cannot  raise  ten  thousand  dof- 
lars  I  must  see  everything  [  possess  swept  awav.  all  mv 
plans  brought  to  nothing.  I  have  tried  to  get  the  money 
everywhere  I  thought  there  was  a  chance  of  obtaining 
It,  and  now  you  are  mv  last  hope." 

McAllister  paused,  breathing  hard,  like  a  man  who  is 
running  a  race,  and  flrew  his  handkerchief  across  his 
brow.     The  girl  looked  at  him.  almost  in  fear. 

"Won't  you  sit  down?"  she  asked  (|uie!lv.  She  had 
been  standing  and  had  swiftlv  resolved  before  he  came 
m  not  to  ask  him  to  be  seated.  McAllister  sank  into  an 
easy  chair  with  a  sigh,  while  she  took  a  chair  beside  the 
desk. 

•'You  asked  for  my  father,  did  vou  not?  He  is  in 
huropc." 

"  Yes,  so  they  told  me.  I  rememlvred  vou  said  at 
the  store  you  were  not  going  to  Europe  with  him,  and  I 
told  you  I  was  glad  of  it.    Now  I  know  whv  I  said  that  " 


i  I  i 

.Ml 


■i'i'> 


M^^^Mi^i^mf^iTsem 


404 


The  Victors 


5 


"  Do  you  expect  mc  to  find  such  a  sum  of  money  as 
you    mentioned?  " 
•'  Yes." 
"  Whv  ?  " 
"  Well,  you  are  a  rich  woman,  are  you  not.  Miss  Van 

Ness?  " 

Tl'.e    j?irl    laujjhed    nervously,    looking    down    at    her 

desk. 

"  I  don't  know  that  I  am,"  she  replied  at  last,  "  and 
even  if  I  were,  I  do  not  see  how  you  can  expect  me  to 
put  monev  into  a  husiness  which  you  say  is  on  the  verj^e 
of  hankriiptcy.  That  is  surely  a  strange  inducement  to 
offer  an  investor." 

"  I  s])eak  the  exact  truth  to  you.  Miss  \'an  Xess.  Yes, 
it  would  be  a  strange  reason  to  give  an  investor.  It 
would  not  be  business,  but  this  is  not  a  matter  of  busi- 
ness." 

Grace  looked  up  quickly,  some  trace  of  a  frown  on 

her   brow. 

"What  is  it  then?"  she  asked  shortly. 

"  It  is  Ijusiness.  of  course,  in  a  way,  but  I  thought  you 
would  let  me  have  the  money  without  requiring  strict 
commercial  reasons  for  doing  so.'' 

"  T  cannot  imagine  why  you  should  think  that." 

"Well.  Miss  \'an  Ness.  I  would  rather  not  explain. 
All  I  can  sav  is,  I  felt  certain  you  would  favour  me  with 
the  monev  if  you  had  it.  The"  only  question  in  my  mind 
was  whether  you  could  place  your  hands  on  such  a  sum 
during  your  father's  absence." 

"  That  was  the  only  (|uestion,  was  it  ?  _  Not  very  flat- 
tering to  me  or  to  my  business  capabilities.  I  must  say. 
Perhaps  I  can  help  you  to  explain,  Mr.  McAllister.  As 
a  first  guess,  it  did  not  occur  to  you  in  the  beginning  to 
come  to  me." 

"  You  arc  quite  right;  it  did  not." 

"  As  a  second  guess,  the  suggestion  was  made  to 
you?  " 

"  Yes,  it  was." 

"  And  vou  eagerly  accepted  it?  " 

"  No,  Miss  \'an  Ness,  on  the  contrary,  I  resisted  it. 


T'X^>^'ki£^'^'<V^^m  fi 


"  There  is  money  ;  spend  it  "  405 

I  flatly  refused  to  come  Iktc.  I  tried  everywhere  else. 
1  went  to  tny  old  employers — the  men  for  whom  we  did 
the  surveying  down  in  Xorth  Carolina— thev  laujjhed 
me  out  of  their  office.  They  could  well  have  put  up  the 
money  and  never  have  missed  it.  even  if  it  were  lost, 
which  it  woii't  he.     Everywhere  1  was  refused." 

"  What  e.xtraordinary  inducements  you  ofTcr  me  for 
makinjT  you  a  loa  ^ !  Vou  expect  me  to  accept  a  se- 
curity that  no  one  tl.-e  in  Xew  York  will  look  at.'" 

"I  don't  ask  a  loan.  I  will  pive  you  ten  thousand  dol- 
lars' worth  of  stock  in  our  husiness  for  the  noney.  ' 

"  Stock  in  a  hankrupt  enteri)rise!  1  am  confident  you 
were  to  conceal  that  fact  from  me." 

"  Certainly  not.  He  told  me  I  could  not  fail  to  j?et 
the  money.  'Co  to  Miss  Van  N'lss."  he  said,  'and 
you're  sure  of  the  ten  thousand."  I  didn't  want  to  come, 
as  I  told  you.  hut  you  see  T  had  to.  at  last,  and  even  now 
I  asked  for  your  father,  and  would  have  jjone  to  him 
if  he  had  been  here,  in  spite  ot  the  fact  that  there  is  One 
who  knows  what  you  will  do — " 

"Oh,  this  is  intolerable!"  cried  Grace  Van  Xess, 
rising-.  Ifer  ajcfitated  fincjers  had  been  tajipini^  the  desk 
iiTipatiently  as  he  went  fatuously  on.  entirely  oblivious  to 
the  effect  his  words  were  producinc:.  The  rich  colour 
stained  the  former  i)allor  of  her  face. 

"  This  is  intolerabi  I  "  she  repeated.  "  Tell  your  con- 
fident friend  that  he  is  mistaken,  that — " 

"  lie  cannot  be,  Miss  \'an  Xess." 

"  r>ut  I  say  he  is,  and  I  assure  you  my  word  is  final. 
How  dare  you  come  to  mc  with  such  a  recital!  I  don't 
wonder  you  hesitate  to  confess  it.  I  suppose  Mr. 
Monro,  shrewder  than  vou,  cautioned  vou  not  to  men- 
tion it." 

"  Monro?     Why,  Jim  knows  nothinf^  about  it." 

"  You  have  just  admitted  that  he  ordered  you  to  come 
to  me." 

"Who?  Jim!  He's  the  last  man  in  the  world  to 
think  of  such  a  thin;;." 

"  Then  of  vhom  were  you  speakin,8f?  Who  suggested 
that  you  should  ask  me  for  the  money  ? " 


i 


I.' 


?^^E  ^^E 

1 

406 

II 

but  th 

The  Victors 


^ord.  T  was  afraid  yon  would  tiot  understand, 
but  there  it  is.  Jim  hcpfs  me  not  to  thrust  my  religfious 
faith  into  pco|)k-"s  faces,  especially  in  matters  of  busi- 
ness. Mut  the  Lord  lias  stood  my  friend  too  often  for 
me  to  doubt  His  jwwer.  I  would  proclaim  Him  from  the 
housetops,  but  1  recognise  tliat  Jim  lias  a  njjht  to  make 
his  views  felt  in  our  partnershij),  so,  usually,  I  keep 
silence,  excejjt  with  hiuv." 

CJrace  ^'a/.vd  at  the  perfervid  speaker  with  wide-open 
eves.  She  saw  that  he  had  not  noticed,  in  his  rapt  jirc- 
occupation,  the  error  of  identity  into  which  she  had 
fallen.  Gently  she  sank  down  into  her  chair  afjain,  rested 
her  elbow  on  the  desk  and  shaded  her  flushed  face 
with  her  hand.  When  the  rhapsody  ceased  she  said 
quietly  : 

"  Is  your  faith  in  the  success  of  your  business  as  firm 
as  your  faith  in  Providence?" 

"  ( )f  course.  They're  one  and  th"  same  thing.  That's 
where  jicople  ma  their  great  mistake.  They  believed  in 
the  power  of  il;  ..ord  in  IHbie  times,  but  they  don't 
realise  that  Jehovah  is  unchanging.  I  tell  you,  Miss 
Van  Xess,  the  .Almighty  is  the  most  potent  business  force 
in  the  United  States  to-day,  if  wc  would  but  acknowl- 
edge the  fact." 

"  You  think  then  that  I  shall  not  lose  the  money  if  I 
entrust  it  to  you?  " 

"  Lose  it  ?  Why,  it  will  make  you  one  of  the  richest 
women  in  New  York.     Lose  it?     You  can't  lose  it." 

The  girl  took  her  hand  from  her  face,  having  recovered 
her  composure.  She  drew  forth  a  book  from  a  pigeon- 
hole in  the  d( 'k,  consulted  it  for  a  few  moments  and 
made  some  figures  on  a  pad  with  a  pencil. 

"  If  I  give  you  a  cheque  for  five  thousand  dollars  now, 
and  another  for  the  same  amount  this  day  week,  will 
that  do?" 

"  Perfectly.  As  long  as  I  can  promise  people  a 
definite  date  for  payment  that  will  be  sufficient," 

"Very   well." 

She  wrote  out  a  cheque  and  handed  it  to  him  with  a 
smile. 


m,"'::'^' 


%«r^ stw.   w.^ 


"  Tlierc  is  money  ;  spend  it  "  407 

"T  am  trustinjj  in  you  rather  than  in  the  Lord,  Mr 
McAllister." 

"  Don't  say  that,  Miss  Van  Xcss." 

"Well,  in  both,  then.  Mr.  McAllstcr,  von  arc  the 
most  remarkahic  man  I  have  ever  met,  I  will  post  the 
other  cheque  to  you  next  week." 


CHAPTER    XIII 


il 


"what,    wilt   thou    klout    me  thus?" 

McAi.i.isTKR  scfiiicd  to  1)0  walkinp;  down  Fifth  Ave- 
nue; in  reality  he  was  trcadinj^  on  air.  His  head  was  in 
the  clduds,  and  his  th(ni.i;hts  soared  into  regions  still 
more  lofty.  His  elastic  temperanient  had  hoisted  him  at 
a  hound  from  a  state  of  tl.e  deepest  depression  into 
realms  of  bliss  undreamed  of  hv  the  most  visionary 
opium  eater.  The  path  to  success  was  cleared  with  a 
sweep  of  the  hand,  and  the  obstacles  which  lay  upon  it  so 
heavily  an  hour  aj,'o  had  vanished  into  space.  He  thouj.jht 
that  nothing  now  could  daunt  him.  Automatically  he 
crossed  Broadway  and  so  into  Sixth  Avenue  His  feet 
took  him  to  his  i)lace  of  husintss  without  direction  from 
his  head.  The  sight  ai  his  own  store  brought  him  down 
to  the  realities  of  life  without  detracting  from  his  jubi- 
lant exultation.  Never  had  the  i)avement  before  it 
seemed  so  thronged;  never  had  the  great  plate-glass 
windows  looked  so  attractive.  Never  were  there  so  many 
buyers  inside,  and  he  walked  through  among  them,  re- 
pressing an  inclination  to  shout  and  to  slap  the  dignified 
Holderness  on  the  back.  But  he  succeeded  in  reaching 
the  glass  office  without  undue  demonstration,  and  there, 
with  shoukk'rs  bent  over  his  desk,  was  a  man  who 
would  make  heavy  draft  on  his  fund  of  self-congratula- 
tion. Ben's  hat,  ready  to  drop  down  his  back,  was 
tossed  jauntily  into  a  corner,  and,  rapping  his  knuckles 
on  Monro's  desk,  he  laughed  out: 

"Jimmy,  my  boy.  I've  got  the  money." 

"  Thank  God  for  that,"'  said  Monro,  looking  up  with 
a  sigli  of  relief,  and  smiling  in  sympathy  with  the 
other's  boyish  antics. 

"  Exactly.  You're  putting  the  thanks  where  they  be- 
408 


mp       •'#jr- 


^-T'  7  "nTn-T-r  "mrr'  ■^•irr^rT"^-T-'iTrMinn--im 


"  What,  wilt  thou  Hout  mc  thus?"     409 

lon,ir,  and  (l..n't  you  for^i't  it.  Now,  Jaint-s.  niv  son.  ju.t 
soak  tliat  clie(|iic.  into  tin-  hank,  wlurc  it  will  do  the  ni.)st 
jjckmI.  and  <l()n't  ^r.-i  chscouraKad  the-  lu-xt  time  vonr 
uncle  ^ofn  a-toraj,nnj.j." 

Monro  to<.k  tip  the  chaiue  so  jovouslv  thrown  down 
before  hiin.  glanced  at  it,  then  fixed  his  ^n/x-  upon  it 
I  he  writing'  mi^dit  have  been  couched  in  si.nie  Iau,i,ruat,'e 
he  could  not  understand,  jo  iiuentlv  did  he  scrutinise  it. 
Suddenly  the  paper  dropped  from  his  hands  as  if  it  had 
scorched  his  fin^n-rs.  lie  wheele.l  round  in  his  swivel 
chair,  white  about  the  lips. 

"Where  di<l  you  ^^'t  this  cheque?"  he  asked,  almost 
in  a  wliis|)er. 

"Where:-'     Didn't  you  read  the  name?" 
"  Do  you  mean  to  say  vou  asked  Miss  Van  Xess  for 
the  money  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  I  p^ot  it.  too." 
Jim  rose  to  his  feet. 

"Men  that  checpie  must  k"  I^ick.  h  is  not  to  be 
caslied. 

"  Why,  what  do  you  mean?" 

"My  meanin.if  is  plain  enouLrli.  I  cannot  luuv  Miss 
Van  iNess  put  her  money  into  a  sinkin.i;  concern  Vou 
know  that  this  business  is  practicallv  insolvent.  You 
had  no  rifrju  to  .ijo  to  her  and  delude  her  into  thinkinjr 
she  IS  makins;  a  profitable  investment  " 

"Delude^  I  .iidn't  delu.lc  any  one.  I  told  lur  ex- 
actly how  we  were  situated.' 

"  Oh.  I  know  the  way  you  talk.  Vou  had  n.,  ri-ht  to 
po   there.  ** 

"  Why  hadn't  I  ?  " 

"Well,  if  you  don't  understand  whv  vou  hadn't  I'll 
never  be  able  to  explain.  You  seem  to  lack  a  .  crtain 
feeling  of  delicacy—" 

"Thunder.  Jim!  You  told  me  yourself  vou  didn't 
care  anythinjj  about  her." 

Monro  made  a  c"sture  of  impatience. 

"That  has  nothing  to  do  with  it.  I  tell  vou  the  most 
hardened  gambler  in  Wall  Street  would  have  some  hesi- 
tation about  approaching  a  lady  for  money.  This  cheque 
must  go  back. '  ^ 


4IO 


The  Victors 


if'  f  I 


lit  till 

|ilj      ij  11 

Wa 

M              '1     : 

^t      '   ■ 

L  _t.i         .  i  „.  , 

McAllister  picked  up  the  paper,  folded  it  again  and 
put  it  into  his  pocket-book. 

"Will  you  send  it  back?"  persisted  Monro,  still 
speaking  with   enforced   calmness. 

"  Of  course,  if  you  say  so,  but  you  must  remember 
there  are  other  interests  at  stake  besides  yours  or  your 
delicate  feelings.  There's  IIoKlerncss'  money,  for  in- 
stance. Will  you  refund  it  if  our  business  goes  down? 
Now,  Jim,  be  reasonable.  You  know  we  simply  must 
have  this  money.  I'll  tell  you  what  I'll  do.  There's  all 
New  York  outside.  Put  on  your  hat,  go  out  and  bring 
in  ten  thousand  dollars,  then  I'll  send  this  cheque  back 
with  thanks.  You  can't  do  it,  eh?  I  know  vou  can't. 
Such  a  sum  isn't  to  be  picked  up  on  every  stiC-^t  corner. 
Very  well,  then ;  don't  object  when  I've  found  the  cash." 

"  Why,  curse  it  all,  you  never  would  have  known  her 
if  it  hadn't  been  for  me.  Voit'zv  found  the  cash !  I  say, 
by  God,  that  cheque  goes  back." 

"  Look  here,  Jim,  I  won't  have  any  swearmg  m  this 
office."'  .  ., 

"  You'll  hate  worse  than  swearing  in  a  minute — 

"  You're  getting  excited  all  Tor  nothing.  You  think 
she  gave  me  the  cheque  because  she  knows  you.  Noth- 
ing of  the  sort.  She  believes  as  I  do  that  this  investment 
will  make  her  a  rich  woman." 

Monro  took  a  few  quick  turns  in  the  room  until  he  had 
gained  control  over  himself  once  more.  Then  he  spoke 
with  some  of  his  usual  calmness. 

"  Are  you  going  to  cash  that  cheque?  " 

"  Certainly.  Within  half  an  hour  from  now  it  will 
be  in  the  bank.    I'll  put  it  there  myself  to  make  sure." 

"  Very  well  then,  I  leave  this  business." 

"  I'm  "sorry.  Ill  do  the  best  I  can  without  you,  and 
you  may  be  sure  that  you  will  get  every  penny  of  your 
share  by-and-by.  multiplied  a  thousand-fold." 

"  Damn  the  shares !  " 

Monro  put  on  his  hat  and  walked  out  of  the  estab- 
lishment, looking  neither  to  the  right  nor  left.  He  took 
exactly  the  same  route  by  which  his  partner  had  so 
shortly  before  returned,  in  a  very  different  state  of  mind. 


"m. 


J/KSL.jk 


3«r' 


"What,  wilt  thou  flout  me  thus?"     411 

He  was  hardly  in  the  proper  mood  for  making  his  first 
call  upon  an  estimable  young  ladv,  hut  he  gave  no 
thought  to  that,  striding  on  with  a  vehemence  that  scat- 
tered unwary  pedestrians  this  wav  and  that.  leavin<^  un- 
heeded m  his  trail  curses  as  deep  as  his  own.  This.liow- 
evcr,  IS  a  world  of  compensations.  Metaphorica'llv  he 
had  thrown  a  pail  of  cold  water  over  his  enthusiastic 
partner,  who  had  done  his  best,  and  who  at  that  moment 
was  sittmg  disconsolately  at  his  desk  with  his  head  in 
his  hands;  now  Monro  was  on  his  way  to  receive  his 
own  douche. 

Grace  Van  Xess  reclined  in  a  low  easy  chair  by  the 
open  window,  gazing  abstractedly  at  the  thin  uprising 
jet  of  the  tinkling  fountain  outside.     She  was  reviewing 
the  various  phases  of  the  extraordinarv  conversation  so 
shortly  before  concluded  with  McAllister,  and  trving  to 
d  scover  why  she  had  made  such  an  unconsidered'invest- 
ment  of  more  money  than  she  could  conveniently  part 
with  until  her  father  returned.     That  he  would  censure 
her  imprudence  she  had  not  the  slightest  fear.    He  would 
laugh  at  her,  and  she  herself  laughed  at  the  mental  pic- 
ture she  drew  of  her  father's  bantering  hilaritv  over  her 
financial    foresight     She   endeavored   to   find  'some   rea- 
sonable  excuse   for  her   entirely    unpremeditated   action. 
Mrst  there  was  her  womanly  sympathv  for  one  so  mani- 
festly stricken  as   McAllister,  a   man'  fighting  with   his 
back  to  the  wall  in  that  terrible  commercial  arena  where 
no  quarter  is  given.     Yet  prudence  whispered  that  she 
could  not  save  all  such  ;  victims  were  going  down  around 
her  every  day.     It  was  doubtful  if  she  had  rescued  even 
this  man.     She  had  i)rolonged  the  .struggle,  but  could  be 
sure  of  no  further  outcome.     Then,  there  was  her  error 
in  regarding  Monro  as  the  instigator  of  the  visit.     That 
was  the  critical  point  of  the  encounter ;  the  sudden    dis- 
covery that  she  w.^s  mistaken,  the  sudden  upleap  of  jov  in 
Iier  own  heart  that  she  was  mistaken,  the  sudden   fear 
that  IxIcAllister  would  penetrate  the  mvsterv  of  her  mis- 
apprehension,   the   sudden    relief   at    seeing   the    single- 
minded  man  had  no  more  suspicion  of  it  than  knowledge 
of  the  fact  that  he  was  conversing  with  the  most  charm- 


'H 


!    1 


:i 


If 

8 

M 

S 

J^ 

' 

i 

ri 

412 


The  Victors 


ingly  dressed  woman  in  New  York.  (Her  morning 
gown  was  a  ravishing  dream  from  Paris.)  All  these 
things  had  formed  a  series  of  such  rapidly  conflicting 
emotions  that  the  reaction  left  her  completely  at  McAl- 
lister's mercy.  She  laughed  again  softly  at  the  picture 
she  conjured  of  her  own  helplessness  and  was  thankful 
that,  all  in  all,  his  demands  had  been  so  moderate. 

But  what  would  James  Monro  think  when  her  cheque 
passed  through  his  hands  for  an  amount  so  considerable  ? 
What  version  would  McAllister  give  his  partner  of  the 
negotiations  which  had  resulted  in  the  transfer  of  that 
bit  of  paper?  If  the  account  were  accurately  rendered 
would  Monro  read  between  the  lines  the  secret  that  had 
been  overlooked  1  McAllister  ?  The  smooth  brow  be- 
came troubled,  the  sweet  lips  more  firmly  closed.  The 
disconcerting  reverie  was  interrupted  by  a  slight  tap  at 
the  door. 

"  Mr.  James  Monro  would  like  to  see  you  for  a  mo- 
ment, miss.'' 

The  girl  sat  up  very  straight  in  her  easy  chair,  an  ex- 
pression of  alarm  coming  swiftly  to  her  eyes,  the  name 
uttered  chiming  so  intimately  with  the  theme  of  her 
thoughts. 

"What — what  tlid  you  say?" 

"  Mr.  Monro,  miss,  wants  to  see  you  for  a  moment, 
miss.'' 

"  Very  well."  She  leaned  back  again,  breathing 
quickly.     "  Show  him  into  the — no,  bring  him  here." 

James  Monro  had  come  on  no  ir.oney-hunting  expedi- 
tion, and  his  vision  was  not  obscured  by  the  jaundice  ot 
gold.  The  supreme  lotus  flower  half  reclining  before 
him,  with  slender  fingers  interlaced,  and  mocking  hazel 
eyes  uplifted  toward  him,  formed  an  entrancing  picture 
of  luxurious  indolence.  He  knew  nothing  of  Paris 
gowns,  but  he  saw  instinctively  that  anything  added  to 
or  detracted  from  this  vision  would  be  an  interference 
with  perfection.  The  seemingly  negligent  massing  of  her 
auburn  hair  was  in  itself  a  liewilderment ;  it  was  almost 
the  first  time  he  had  seen  her  without  a  hat,  and  as  his 
dazzled  eyes  sank  from  this  sunset  effect  they  encoun- 


"What,  wilt  thou  flout  me  thus?"     413 

tercd  the  vanishing  and  reappearing  t.p  of  a  daintv  slin- 
per  swaying  laz.lv  in  a  uave-crest  of  fuann-  lace 

Good  morning,  Mr.  Monro.  Will  vou  forgive  in- 
ertia and  excuse  my  niaction  ?  I  am  so  deliciou;iv  con 
ortable  here  that  I  l,ate  to  move  an.I  as  the  hour  iV  c'rh- 
1  was  not  expecting  visitors.  Please  sit  down  "in  the 
most  lethargic  chair  you  can  find,  that  vou  mav  not  he 
a  standing  reproach  to  a  dawdling  woman  '        ' 

Monro  seated  himself  rather  blindly  on  tiie  first  chair 
that  came  to  hand.    His  hat  fell  to  the  floor :  he  made  a 

when  It  rolled  out  of  reach  in  a  corner.     The  traces  if 
storm  had  not  yet  cleared  from  his  countenance,  wdiicl 
was  now  overspread  with  a  flush  of  vexation  at  his  ow 
avykwardness.      She    watched    him    through    half-close 

o  nu?  1  r^" V'T/''  °"  ,'•"'■  '•P''''  ^^"^  '^""'''^  ""  inclination 
to  put  h.m  further  a   his  ease  1)y  cither  word  or  action. 

Yes    It  IS  early,     he  said  at  last.  "  but  I  suspect  vou 
have  had  a  visitor  before  me."  - 

f.^T''*"'^^  certainly  a  precedent  for  vour  call.  How 
far  down  the  hst  of  members  of  vour  firm  do  vou  think 
U  will  extend?  Am  I  to  look  for  Mr.  Hol.ierncss  next" 
,W5  "p  ,T?, -"i^  l>ody:  make  it  a  sort  of  annual  out- 
ing? Lut  I  thmk  you  should  give  me  notice,  that  I 
might  provide  refreshment.' 

"  Miss  \'an  Xess.  you  are  laughing  at  me.  but  I  assure 
you  1  am  very  serious." 

"  I  see  you  are,  and  I  don't  object  to  that,  unless  v<ni 
insist  on  my  being  serious,  too." 

S^^^u^^'^  T^  ^''''  I^^^>'"^"f  '^'^  f'at  che(|ue  ^■nu  gave 
to^  Mc.Mhster  this  morning,  and  there  is  no  time  to  be 

should  I  rather  say  command?  One  does  not  si-n 
cheques  in  order  to  countermand  them.  This  is  not' the 
first  of  April.  Mr.  Monro."  ^ 

"  You  do  not  understand  the  situation.  Miss  \'an  .\ess 
V\e  are  on  the  verge  of  l)ankruptcy  and—" 

"  Almost  the  very  words  your  partner  used,"  drawled 
the  young  woman. 


•  I 


414 


The  Victors 


"  What  ?  Did  he  tell  you  there  was  every  chance  of 
the  money  being  totally  lost  ?  " 

"  He  intimated  as  much.  Of  course,  I  know  that  great 
gains  are  usually  preceded  by  great  risks.  I  am  taking 
the  present  risk  for  the  chanc"  of  the  future  gain.  My 
father  has  told  me  that  much  money  is  made  bv  buying 
when  concerns  are  on  the  verge  of  bankruptcy." 

"  Yes,  but  y    i  arc  not  buying  at  bankrupt  prices ;  you 
are  taking  stock  at  its  face  value — at  par,  in  fact,  when 
it  is  not  worth  one  per  cent,  on  the  market.    If  a  forced 
sale  came  on  us — if  we  went  into  the  hands  of  a  re- 
ceiver who  insisted  on  immediate  realisation,  the  whole 
business  would  not  bring  in  cash  what  you  are  paying 
for  a  minute  fraction  of  it." 
"  I  understand  that  perfectly." 
"  Then  why  did  you  let  him  have  the  money  ?  " 
"  llecause  I  have  a  great  belief  in  Air.  Mc.Mlister." 
"  For  no  other  reason  ?  " 
What  other  reason  do  you  suggest?" 
'  T  make  no  suggestion." 

"  Oh,  I  beg  your  pardon,  but  you  do.     What  other  rea- 
son is  in  your  mind  ?  " 

(Now,  James  Monro,  why  scrutinise  that  Persian  rug 
at  your  feet?  Its  design  and  workmanship  are  incom- 
parable, no  doubt,  but  they  have  nothing  to  do  with  the 
,  oint  at  issue.  Answer  her  question  Uke  an  honest  man. 
iSav  that  you  care  so  much  for  her  that  you  cannot  bear 
to  have  her  suffer  the  smallest  loss  if  you  can  prevent  it. 
Do  not  confuse  your  mind  with  non-essentials.  All  those 
evidences  of  wealth  around  you  should  have  no  influ- 
ence upon  your  thoughts.  A  man  is  a  man,  and,  be  he 
straightforward,  there  is  nothing  better  in  this  world, 
save  a  woman  who  is  also  straightforward,  and  there  she 
sits  before  you.  The  main  thing  is  that  you  are  alone 
with  her,  not  to  be  interrupted,  and  such  a  situation, 
whether  in  barn  or  boudoir,  is  priceless.  Raise  your 
head  quicklv  and  intercept  that  look  now  bent  upon  you. 
before  she 'has  time  to  veil  it  with  seeming  intliffer- 
ence.) 

"  You  will  not  answer  my  question  ?  "    Her  voice  was 


"  What,  wilt  thou  flout  mc  thus  ?  "     415 

suave  and  the  lids  lialf-closcd  aj:jain.     "  Has  Mr.   Mc- 
Allister obtainctl  money  from  others  beside  myself?" 

"  Yes.  l-'rom  every  person  who  would  let  him  have 
it." 

(Now  you  look  up  eagerly  enough,  but  von  have 
missed  something.  She  is  talkin,yf  to  you  about  money, 
but  not  thinkincf  of  it.  A  moment  sime  her  heart  was 
beating-  faster  than  her  nonchalant  attitude  would  have 
led  you  to  suppose,  had  you  but  glanced  at  h-r.  undoubt- 
edly more  beautiful  than  any  weft  of  a  PcTsian  lo.im. ) 

"  And  do  you  think  these  people  will  also  lose  their 
investments  ?  " 

"  If  one  loses,  all  will  lose." 

"What  did  they  say  when  you  warned  them?" 

"Warned  them?     I  didn't  warn  them." 

"  ThvU  why  do  you  warn  me?  ' 

"  I — I — you   see   it's   different — I — " 

"  Come,  Mr.  Monro,  do  not  hesitate.  Surelv  vou  real- 
ise the  humiliating  position  in  which  you  place  nie.  Vou 
are  actually  assuming  that  I  gave  this  chef|ue  because  I 
had —  Oh,  I  cannot  bring  myself  to  state  it.  vet  it  must 
be  stated.  You  dare  to  hint'  that  I  was  intluencerl  bv 
some  partiality  for  Mr.  James  Monro— a  man  whom  I 
have  met  two  or  three  times  in  the  most  casual  way.  P.e- 
cause  he  has  extended  to  me  a  few  courtesies,  and  be- 
cause I  have  been  so  foolish  as  to  accept  them,  he 
thinks — " 

"  I — I  assure  you.  Miss  Van  Xess.  you  are  mistaken,'' 
cried  Monro,  rising,  or  rather  staggering  to  his  feet. 

"  I  am  iiot  mistaken.  Your  whole  attitude  bears  out 
my  suspicion.  \\'hy  have  you  the  presumption  to  come 
here  and  offer  me  unasked  advice?  You  took  no  such 
trouble  with  the  others,  it  seems.  You  must  have  im- 
agined that  I  would  receive  your  advice — vcs — vour 
commands,  even,  for  it  was  in  that  form  vour  will' was 
first  presented — with  all  the  docile  humil'itv  of  an  in- 
fatuate(I  woman.  Well,  if  this  visit  has  disabused  your 
mind  of  all  such  preposterous  ideas  I  shall  not  be  sorry 
ynn  made  it,  even  if  you  have  compelled  nie  to  speak 
very  plainly  to  you." 


;     Ss  I 


416 


The  Victors 


In  some  way  James  Monro  had  secured  his  hat,  and 
he  held  it  now  with  both  hanils,  as  if  he  would  like  to  be 
sure  of  something.  He  stood  his  ground,  too,  with 
quiet  stubbornncs  when  he  had  better  have  followed  his 
departed  opporturiity  and  taken  his  leave.  !5ut  he  felt 
he  was  being  treated  unjustly  and  with  unnecessary 
harshness. 

"  You  take  no  account  of  my  sense  of  responsibility. 
If  it  had  not  been  for  me  you  never  would  have  met 
Benjamin  McAllister.  If  you  lose  your  money  I  hold 
myself  to  blame." 

"  Your  sense  of  responsibility  would  appear  to  better 
advantage  in  assisting  the  efforts  of  your  partner  than  in 
attempting  to  undermine  them.'' 

"  Undermine  them  ?  " 

"  Certainly:  What  else  are  you  doing  here?  Does  he 
know  of  your  errand?" 

"  No." 

"  I  was  sure  of  it." 

"  I  will  withdraw  from  the  company." 

"  You  will  apologise  to  Mr.  McAllister  and  remain 
with  him." 

"  I  will  ajralogise  to  him ;  I  .see  I  have  wronged  him ; 
he  is  so  optimistic  that  I  feared  he  had — still  that  does 
not  matter — I  was  mistaken." 

"  You  will  say  nothing  to  him  of  your  visit  here." 

"  Then  how  can  I  apologise  to  him  for  what  you  re- 
gard as  my  treachery  toward  him  ?  " 

"  By  the  only  kind  of  apology  that  is  of  any  value. 
Bv  working  with  him  and  thus  liclping  to  make  sure  that 
the  money  is  not  lost." 

"  Very  well,  I'll  do  it.  Good-bye  and  forgive  me,  if 
you  can,  for  coming." 

"Good-bye." 

(Yes,  James,  they  can  be  hard  when  they  like,  and  it 
is  no  consolation,  is  it,  that  they  may  suffer  when  they 
inflict.  It  might  have  been  different  had  you  inter- 
cepted that  glance  unaware.  But  very  likely  you  would 
not  have  known  what  it  meant.), 


BOOK  V 

SPOILS  TO  THH  VICTORS 


CHAPTER    I 
"they  are  so  linked  in  friendshii- " 

Patrick  Macuire  took  up  his  residence  in  the  ward 
that  once  upon  a  time  elected  him  alderman ;  for 
although  he  had  resigned  the  honour  upon  being  appoint- 
ed iMre  F.scape  Inspector,  there  were  many  people  in  the 
district  who  were  friends  of  his,  and  he  liked  to  he  near 
them.  And,  by  the  same  token.  Patrick  himself  spared 
no  trouble  to  oblige  a  friend :  he  was  never  so  busy  but 
he  would  drop  h's  own  concerns  at  the  word  and  tramp 
the  town  to  confer  a  favour  ujjon  one  who  needed  it.  No 
matter  how  poor  the  applicant  might  be.  no  matter  how 
slight  his  political  influence,  Maguire  spared  no  pains 
in  accomplishing  the  service  sought,  doing  it  cheerfully, 
making  nothing  of  it.  and  leaving  no  weight  of  obligation 
on  the  shoulders  he  had  lightened  of  some  burden.  Fre- 
quently he  was  offered  money  by  jieople  who  could  ill 
afford  it,  who  wanted  this  or  that  axe  ground;  but 
Pat,  to  their  amazement,  would  never  touch  a  penny ;  yet 
his  refusal  gave  no  hint  of  any  high  moral  standpoint 
that  reduced  the  would-be  briber  to  a  lower  plane  than 
himself.  He  never  left  behind  him  a  rankling  sense  of 
his  own  superiority. 

■'  T^ook  here,"  he  would  say,  patting  the  other  on  the 
back  or  throwing  an  arm  about  Irs  shoulder,  "  the  little 
tr  fle  Tvc  dene  for  vnu  to-dav,  voii'll  do  for  me  in  some 


27 


417 


I 


iiiiii 


418 


The  Victors 


other  way,  to-morrow  or  next  day  or  never,  as  it 
happens.  If  you  never  do  me  a  p;ood  turn  it'll  be  for 
want  of  the  chance  and  not  for  want  of  the  will.  It's 
well  I  know  that.  I'll  have  a  drink  wid  ye.  if  you'll  have 
one  with  me  next  time  we  meet,  but  there's  no  money 
goin'  to  pass  between  you  and  mc." 

There  was  always  an  intimate  inflection  on  the  last 
word,  which  included  the  hearer  in  the  circle  of  Pat's 
particular  friends.  No  doubt  was  left  in  the  listener's 
mind  but  that  Pat  would  take  money  on  occasion, 
although  not  on  tJr<;  occasion — not  from  a  cherished  com- 
rade. There  was  nothing  of  the  holier-than-thou  in 
Patrick's  walk  or  conversation. 

The  hundredth  ward  could  scarcely  be  termed  a 
residential  district.  It  was  noisy  with  factories  of  all 
kinds,  and  inhabited  largely  by  working  people.  One 
or  two  of  its  streets  were  frankly  slums  of  the  lowest 
order;  others  were  closely  packed  with  evil-smelling 
tenements.  But  on  the  outskirts  of  the  district  there 
had  been  erected  recently  several  somewhat  jjretcntious 
apartment  houses,  and  in  the  upper  part  of  "  The  Kala- 
mazoo "  Patrick  Maguire  and  his  young  wife  resided. 
To  the  poorer  inhabitants  of  the  district  "  The  Kalama- 
zoo "  seemed  a  palace ;  even  Lottie  herself  was  impressed 
with  its  magnificence,  and  wrote  long  letters  to  her  mother 
describing  its  many  conveniences.  But  Maguire  at  home 
or  abroad  was  equally  accessible  to  all  comers,  and  his 
flat  became  a  sort  of  unofificial  Mecca  for  numerous  pil- 
grims in  trouble.  The  cynical  would  say  that  this  was 
merely  the  sowing  of  a  crop  to  be  garnered  on  election 
day,  but  the  chances  are  that  Lottie's  own  estimate  was 
nearer  the  truth.  She  had  not  the  slightest  doubt  that 
it  was  all  owing  to  Patrick's  sympathetic  heart.  He 
hated  to  see  any  one  in  difficulties,  and  goodness  knows 
the  poor  of  that  great  city  had  difficulties  enough. 
Patrick  was  just  as  ready  to  aid  some  alTlicted  old  woman 
with  no  vote,  whose  scapegrace  son  had  been  deservedly 
nabbed  by  the  police,  as  he  was  to  obey  the  behest  of  the 
Mayor  of  New  York. 

"  That's  all  right,  mother.    Don't  you  fret.     The  boy 


"They  are  so  linked  in  friendship"     419 

won't  be  sent  to  the  islaiul  this  trip.  Jh'Ik*-'  (Jrady  is  a 
friend  of  mine,  and  a  decenter  man  than  John  Gratly 
is  not  to  be  found  in  all  this  country.  I "11  drop  in  a  word 
for  the  boy.     An'  what's  his  name,  by-the-bye  ?  " 

He  would  make  it  a  i)()int  to  be  at  tlie  police  court, 
hold  a  little  whispered  conference  with  the  judge,  and 
when,  to  the  scorn  and  scandal  of  the  law,  the  frifjhtened 
lad  was  left  off  with  a  caution.  Ma.cfuire  would  say  a 
few  words  in  season  to  him  as  they  walked  up  the  street 
together. 

"  See  here,  ye  young  spalpeen,  it's  in  gaol  you'd  be  this 
day  if  your  poor  old  mother  hadn't  come  up  to  my  tlat, 
weepin'  for  ye.  An'  it's  for  her  1  do  it,  not  for  you,  till 
ye  show  yourself  worth  that  much  trouble.  I  can  take  a 
drink  with  the  best  of  them,  either  Iwcause  I'm  dry  or 
because  I'm  in  good  company,  but  I  don't  make  a  beer 
vat  of  meself  and  go  howlin'  down  the  street  breakin' 
innocent  people's  heads  an'  other  folk's  windows.  Leave 
the  stuff  alone,  if  ye  can't  carry  it  decently  an'  as  a  man 
should.  I5e  kind  to  your  old  mother.  Ye  cati  pick  up 
plenty  o'  those  dirty  thieves  ye  were  with  Satur  lay  night, 
that  ran  away  an'  left  )e  when  ye  got  pinched,  but  ye'U 
never  have  but  one  mother  ;  see  that  ye  mind  that,  now, 
or  I'll  tell  the  coi)s  to  club  the  stupid  head  off  ye  next 
time  they  run  ye  in,  and  they'll  do  it,  too,  ' 

Maguire,  however,  did  not  have  everythiui'-  nis  own 
way  in  political  circles,  h  was  one  peculiarity  of  the 
man  that  people  either  hated  him  or  loved  1  rm.  There 
seemed  to  be  no  middle  ground  on  which  an  acquaint- 
ance of  Maguire's  could  stand.  Rafferty  a* id  his  gang 
cordially  detested  him,  and  the  chiefs  at  headf|uarters 
seemed  to  have  a  distrust  of  him.  He  had  been  taken 
into  the  association  largely  on  Judge  Grady's  represen- 
tations that  here  was  a  man  to  be  accounted  with,  but 
Grady  himself  stood  by  no  means  high  in  the  councils  of 
Tammany.  Boss  Bradley  favoured  him,  so  the  rest  tole- 
rated him,  but  he  was  not  of  their  kidney.  John  Grady 
was  a  university  graduate,  actually  in  possession  of  a 
degree,  and  he  was  a  stock  illustration  of  the  frequently 
stated  fact  that  an  educated  man  might  succeed  in  Xew 


.^tTaK... 


m 


420 


The  Victors 


£1 


York  politics.  Grady  was  supposed  to  l;c  incorruptible, 
so  far  as  money  went,  but  it  was  asserted  tbat  he  always 
obeyed  the  commands  of  the  P.  )ss,  wliich  was  doubtless 
true  enough.  (Irady  had  his  livinjj  to  make  as  well  as 
the  rest  of  us,  and  a  police  court  judge  impervious  to  all 
influence,  would  have  lx^en  of  little  use  to  Tammany. 

More  than  once  Maguire  saw  that  Grady  was  uneasy 
about  him.  The  judge  had  a  strong  per-sonal  l.king  for 
this  energetic  young  man  from  the  West,  and  aside  from 
that  he  felt  the  responsibility  of  having  practically  forced 
him  upon  the  party.  During  the  first  few  years  of  Ma- 
guire's  occupancy  of  the  fire  escape  inspectorshij)  he  was 
not  interfered  with  to  any  great  c.ctent.  The  salary 
attached  to  the  office  was  too  small  to  afford  any  tempta- 
tion to  those  with  "  pull  "  enough  to  have  ousted  him. 
replacing  him  with  one  of  themselves,  but  as  time  went 
on  it  became  whispered  that  there  was  more  in  this  berth 
than  appeared  to  the  eye.  Although  many  new  buildings 
were  being  erected,  few  of  them  were  decorated  with  fire 
escapes,  while  older  edifices  which  should  long  ago  have 
complied  with  the  law  had  not  done  so. 

Curiously  enough  those  good  citizens  who  endeavoured 
to  meet  the  requirements  of  the  statutes  made  and  pro- 
vided found  great  difficulty  and  incurred  much  expense 
in  striving  to  please  the  inspe-^or,  who  seemed  extremely 
anxious  to  protect  life  and  limb  and  was  resolved  to '  ve 
appliances  that  were  practically  perfect;  an  objec.  lot 
easy  to  attain  in  this  defective  world.  The  ob.'-  i-jles. 
however,  dissolved  after  a  personal  interview  with  Ma- 
guire,  and  it  is  to  be  supposed  that  the  arguments  of 
owners  and  contractors  convinced  him  th-^t  their  pre- 
cautions were  ample. 

"  I  wish."  said  Judge  Grady  to  him  one  day.  "  that 
you  would  pay  more  attent-on  to  the  chiefs,  and  less  to 
those  no-account  people  in  the  slums." 

"  Now.  Grady  ^hat's  just  where  you're  away  off.  but 
I  suppose  it"s  th„.  unfortunate  college  education  leads 
you  astray.  Thank  God.  I  never  saw  the  outside  of  a 
college,  let  alone  the  inside  ovvut.  What  puts  the  chiefs, 
as  ye  call  them,  where   they   are,  but  the  people  of  the 


"They  pre  so  linked  in  friendship"     421 

slums,  as  ye  call  them.  Seems  to  nie.  judj^je.  that  you've 
got  the  names  of  thin«:s  mixed;  it's  the  real  chiefs  I'm 
attemhn' to,  ami  not  their  no-account  servants  at  the  City 
Hall.  I'm  a  jjreat  believer  in  the  people,  John,  an'  I'n'i 
one  of  them  myself." 

"  V'V.  ^^^^^l'  ^^^  '■'fi^!''  enough.     We  all  believe  in   the 


you  can't  j^el  at  the 


people,"  replied   the  judpe,  "but 
people  e.xcei)t  throujjh  Tammany." 

"  I  did  it  before."  said  the  inspector,  drily. 

*'  Yes,  but  you  did  it  throu,ijh  fr—  Voi,  did  it  tlirouijh 
a  fluke;  you  can't  do  that  a  second  time." 

''Ye  were  ^'oin'  to  say  throuj-h  fraud,  fohn.  It's  all 
right;  don't  apologize.  I  see  ve  do  know  the  rij-ht 
names  of  some  things  in  spite  of  the  colleen'.  Well,  to 
tell  the  truth,  John,  the  boys  at  head(|uarters  don't  think 
much  o'  me.  an'  I  think  just  as  little  o"  them.  You  told 
me  once  that  Tammany  recpu'rcs  the  obedience  of  a 
soldier  and  the  work  of  a  dock-wholli.per.  She  does. 
Very  well,  I  obey,  and  I  work.  Now  what  more  can 
they  ask  ?  " 

They  can  ask  your  office,  for  instance,  and  get  it.  too, 
Patrick,  my  boy.  I'n:  warning  vou  for  vour  own  good. 
They're  muttering  a  bit  about  you.  Yo'u  see  vou  hold 
an  office  by  appointment,  and  are  playing  the 'game  of 
a  man  looking  to  be  elec  '  and  that  strikes  me  as  not 
being  so  clear-headed  as  I  expected  of  vou.  .\  man 
holding  an  appointment  tries  to  please  the  people  who 
can  dismiss  him.     You  ignore  them." 

They  were  conversing  in  .Maguire's  private  room, 
which  was  really  his  office,  in  the  "  Kalamazoo  "  flats. 
Maguire  leaned  back  in  his  chair  and  looked  across  the 
table  genially  at  his  friend,  thumbs  in  the  armholes  of 
his  vest. 

"Grady,  what  do  you  know?  What  are  vou  hintiuL' 
at?"  .  s 

"  Well,  I  can  hardly  tell  you  what  I  know.  I  merely 
want  to  put  3'ou  on  your  guard.  I've  had  some  points  in 
confidence  from  Bradley.  I  may  tell  vou  that  if  it  hadn't 
been  for  him  you  were  out  of  your  office  long  ago.  He's 
an  honest  man  and  lilos  to  keep  to  a  bargain  made;  but 


u 


II 


422 


The  Victors 


there    are    those    ;  \)oi't    him  who    arc    different — very 
different." 

'  e  been  nrdered  to  run  for  alder- 
)>.t,  to  fill  the  vacancy  made  by 

mittalbcimer?  " 
I  '  t  I  knew  it  was  talked  of.   The 
'i-adley  himself  is  aware  of  all 


Mr. 

I'.cv 


lrt«e 
.)  1'.' 


hat's  my  objection  to  Bradley. 

ou  sry,  but  lie's  just  pot  no 
'  •  him  have  neither 
iiake  better  politicians. 
I  "<s  f^ot  both  brains  and 
'  '  — a  man  like  me,  for 


"  Do  you  know  that 
man  ap^ain  in  tlx?  dis 
pivinp  a  :<'ft  snap    ^ 

"  I  didn't  kn  w 
truth  is,  I  don'" 
that  is  Roinp  on. 

"  Of  course  he  imi  >. 
He's  an  honest  p..  n,  as 
brains  at  all,  at  ill  '!" 
honesty  nor  braids,  .aul  - 
Ihit  when  they  i.  ^  i  a  i 
honesty,  then  they  ;ct  le^ 
instance." 

"  Don't  be  too  ire  ot  it,  1  at.  Go  and  sec  Ilradley 
and  the  rest.  Trik  sweet  to  them.  You  can  do  it  if 
you  trv.  Clet  them  to  vvitluh;uv  their  notice  to  you. 
Don't  refuse  to  run,  for  that's  what  they  expect.  That 
>',  .;.'  give  them  the  excuse  I  hey  want  for  putting  your 
hrad  m  the  basket.  lUrt  you  palaver  them,  and  get 
them  to  leave  you  alone.  Remind  I'.radley  (jf  the  bargain 
he  made  in  my  rooms.     He'll  stick  by  you  if  he  can." 

"  It's  too  late,  me  boy.  I've  sent  word  that  ill  do  as 
they  told  me.     I'm  going  to  run  for  alderman." 

"  Then.  Maguire,  they've  got  you.  Now  let  me  give 
you  a  point  or  two.  Don't  try  any  tricks.  You'll  be 
watched,  and  they'll  nab  you.  They'll  make  a  great 
outcry  about  honesty  from  the  inside — tliat's  always 
popular — and  they'll  railroad  you  into  State  I'rison." 

"  Yes,  but  what  about  my  electioneering  this  last  year 
or  two,  that  you  were  complaining  of  a  while  since?  " 

"  It  won't  do  you  any  good,  Pat.  The  word  will  go 
quietly  out  that  you're  to  be  defeated.  A  republican 
alderman  more  or  less  don't  make  any  difFerence  to  them. 
You  will  have  Tammany  ostensibly  for  you,  but  actually 
against  you.  It's  no  use  fighting  Tammany,  Pat ;  it  has 
broken  bigger  men  than  you.  .nnd  w.vn  that  .ipjK-jrently 
had  the  city  behind  them.  There's  nothing  for  it  but  to 
go  to  the  chiefs  and  talk  them  over  if  you  can,  although 


"They  arc  so  linked  in  friendship"     423 

that  will  not  be  easy  now.  Still  1  think  von  can  d..  it  if 
you  put  yimr  mind  t(i  it.  .Xhove  all.  keep' cool,  ai'-l  lun'* 
show  fij?ht.  Ddu'i  let  tluin  maJM-  you  anjjry.  N'.ni  can't 
treat  Taininany  as  you  did  Rarurtv." 

"<;rady,  you're  a  aoml  friend  of  mine.  an..  Ill  not 
forj^et  it.  I'm  iiiakint;  a  K'r^at  ^tiuly  of  raminanv.  and 
I've  been  hard  at  it  for  years  now.  an.l.  I  tell  \  n.  jolin, 
it's  interestinjr.  I'.cfore  I  came  to  .\i\v  ^'o^k  1  tiinui,dit 
Tammany  was  a  unit.  Instead  of  that  1  tiiid  it  full  of 
(|uarrels  and  bickerinjj^s  and  backbit iiii,'-  and  pluitintj.  half 
of  them  ready  to  cut  the  throats  of  the  other  half' 

"  Don't  be  deluded  by  inside  ructions,  Ma^'uirf 
They're  a  unit  when  the  enemy  is  at  the  jjfate.  and  tliat  s 
enough  for  practical  purixtses!" 
^  "  It  isn't.  (Irady.  as  I  think  I'll  show  these  bovs  before 
I'm  throuj.,di  with  them.  Xo\v  I'll  tell  you  another  thinK^ 
I've  resigned  my  office  of  inspector.  I  sc  t  in  me  resiijn 
when  I  said  I'd  run  for  alderman,  as  is  but  ri.i,dit  and 
proper." 

(irady  gave  utterance  to  an  exclamation  of  dismav. 

"Why,  Pat.  how  did  you  come  to  do  that!'  N'ou've 
handed  over  all  thev  were  plottincf  for  before  the  fiidit 
began. 

"  They're  welcome  to  it." 

"I  thought  you  were  doing  well.  Vou  live  here  in 
good  style,  and  I  know  that  can't  be  done  on  two  thou- 
sand a  year;  they're  beginning  to  suspect  as  much  to  .  ' 

"Let  them  suspect.  The  fight's  beginning,  as  vou 
said.  Do  you  know  what  will  happen  if  thev  beat  nx- 
inside  Tammany? — if  they  prove  me  f  can't  get  along 
with  this  lot  that's  running  the  town?" 

"  Xo.     \\  hat  ?  " 

"The  republicans  will  be  in  the  City  Hall  after  nexi 
election.'' 

It  was  now  Grady's  turn  to  sit  back  in  his  chair  and 
stare  across  the  table.  Presently  his  amazement  gave 
place  to  an  amused  smile. 

"  Well,  Pat,  I  think  mnch  of  vou.  as  you  know,  but — 
excuse  my  asking,  arc  you  going  to  put  the  republicans 
in,  or  are  you  just  making  an  election  guess?  " 


424 


The  Victors 


"  Oh,  it's  like  this,"  said  Maguire  airily,  waving  his 
hand.  "HI  find  need  for  the  republicans  in  the  City 
Hall.  I'll  put  them  there.  It's  easier  dcrne  than  trying  to 
unite  a  working,  fighting  force  witl.in  our  own  party. 
When  Tamtnaiiy  goes  to  pieces,  some  one  will  pick  up  the 
hits,  and  I'll  be  the  man.  I've  made  up  my  mind  that  an 
educated  gossoon  like  you  would  make  an  excellent 
mayt)r  of  New  York,  so  I'll  put  you  there." 

"  Thanks,"  assented  Grady,  with  a  laugh.  "  that  would 
suit  me  down  to  the  ground,  for  I  don't  mind  admitting 
to  you  that  I'm  ambitions.  But  I  hope  you  won't  try  it 
on  the  republican  ticket.  Seems  to  me  I'd  rather  take 
my  chances  with  the  other  crowd." 

"  That's  all  right.  Now,  John,  you've  been  a  good 
friend  to  me,  as  I've  often  said,  and  I'm  not  a  man  that 
forgets  one  kindness,  let  alone  a  hundred  of  them.  I'm 
going  to  talk  to  you  as  I'd  talk  to  no  man  living.  You 
said  you  thought  I  was  getting  on  well  with  the  inspec- 
torship.    I  was." 

"  Then  why  did  you  resign  it  ?  " 

"  Because  it  could  be  taken  from  me  at  any  moment, 
and  because  I  want  something  bigger.  I'm  ambitious, 
too. 

"  Still,  I  should  have  hung  onto  the  smaller  thing  until 
1  got  the  larger." 

"  Not  when  you've  squeezed  out  all  there's  in  it.  Let 
another  fellow  take  the  place  when  people  are  about 
ready  to  squeal.     Grady,  just  look  at  that  book." 

Maguire  had  unlocked  an  inner  drawer  and  taken  out 
a  bank-book.  He  slid  it  across  the  table  to  his  friend,  who 
looked  at  it  as  requested,  gave  a  whistle,  and  sent  it  back. 

"  More  than  thirty  thousand  dollars,  eh?  Well,  that's 
not  bad." 

"  No,  but  it's  the  smallest  amount  to  my  credit  in  one 
of  six  bank-books.  I  go  well  over  the  quarter  million, 
my  boy.  What  do  you  think  of  that?  You  see,  if  it 
costs  a  man  ten  thousand  dollars  to  put  up  fire  escapes 
in  a  big  block,  he  is  quite  willing  to  give  me  three  or  four 
thousand  to  be  let  alone.  I>ut  he  won't  do  that  every 
year,  for  it  would  be  cheaper  in  the  long  run  to  order  the 


"  They  arc  so  linked  in  friendship  "     425 


iron  ladders.  Tliat's  the  trouble  with  the  sclieme.  We 
want  some  plan  that  will  jjfivc  us  these  payments  every 
vear.  You  see  wliat  I'm  driving-  at.  j  want  New 
York." 

"  You've  made  up  your  mind  to  be  Boss,  then?" 

"  I   have." 

"  I  don't  see  how  beinj^  defeated  in  the  hun<lredth  pre- 
einct  is  j^oing-  to  help  you.  ' 

"  Neither  do  I.  When  you  don't  know  what  to  do,  do 
the  regular  thing.  That'.'  what  I'm  doing.  Tammany 
says  '  run,'  and  J  say  '  Right  you  are,  me  hearties.'  I 
obe\  orders.  No  fault  can  be  found  with  that.  If  they 
defeat  their  own  candidate,  then  they're  showing  a  bad 
<  xamplc  that  may  turn  up  against  them  some  (lay,  and 
so  they  can't  complain  if  the  hoop  they  step  on  hits  them 
on  the  knee.  But  besides  all  that,  Grady,  I'm  just 
spoiling  for  a  fight  again.  I'm  longing  for  the  excite- 
ment of  an  election.  I've  been  piling  up  money  for  a 
while  row,  and  it's  but  a  (|uiet,  monotonous  business. 
I'm  just  loneson.c  for  another  chance  of  appealing  to  the 
suffrages  of  my  fellow-ct^ens,  and  then  I  want  to  try 
an  experiment.'' 

am  warn'ng   you  against,    Maguire. 
watch    you.     I    have    that    j)retty 


"  That's    what  I 
They're    going    to 
straight." 

"  I  want  to  try  a 
"  It's  dangerous. 


new  trick  on  them."' 
What's  your  game?" 
"  A  square,  honest  election.     If  that  doesn't  paralyse 
the  boys,  I'm  a  bigger  Dutchman  than  Jacob  Schmut- 
telheimcr." 


CHAPTER    II 


FORTl'N'K    AND    VICTORY    SIT    ON     THY     HELM 


11.^ 


Magl  ikk's  resignation  of  his  office  came  with  a  shock 
upon  the  sachems  of  Tammany.  The  incident  was  un- 
precedented. No  practical  poHtician  had  ever  given  up 
anything  he  held,  within  the  memory  of  man,  unless  he 
had  been  promised  something  better.  They  saw  they 
were  going  to  be  quit  of  this  interloper  in  easier  fashion 
than  had  been  anticipated.  An  humi)le  recruit  was  all 
right  enough  in  his  way  and  was  to  be  welcomed  at  any 
time,  but  a  young  fellow  who  had  unexpectedly  dropped 
from  the  clouds,  demanding  an  office  when  already  there 
were  not  enough  places  to  go  round  among  those  who 
had  earned  them,  was  unbearable.  The  inspectorship 
once  in  the  hands  of  a  redoubtable  worker  belonging  to 
the  fold,  they  would  give  secret  instructions  for  Ma- 
guire's  defeat  in  the  staunch  hundredth  ward,  and 
thus  be  rid,  once  for  all.  of  a  grasping  intruder.  Be- 
sides, an  underhand  deal  with  the  republican  party 
would  please  that  organisation,  give  it  something  to 
shout  about,  and  add  to  the  score  of  its  secret  indebted- 
ness to  Tammany,  an  obligation  to  be  repaid  a  thousand- 
fold when  a  general  election  was  on. 

Maguire  accepted  the  situation  with  equanimity.  His 
time  was  his  own  now.  and  he  spent  it  largely  with  his 
humble  friends  in  the  precinct,  anticipa/  .";  '-.is  own  de- 
feat with  great  good-humour.  "  Yis ;  they're  goin'  to 
trow  me  down,  Mike.  They've  no  use  fur  the  loike  av 
me  at  aither  of  the  halls,  Tammany  or  the  city.  Av 
coorse.  it's  you  that'll  vote  for  me,  it's  well  I  know  thot. 
an'  it's  little  need  there  is  for  ye  to  tellut  to  me,  an' 
I've  many  a  good  friend  in  the  precinct  forby,  and 
these  divils'U  not  shove  me  under  so  deep  as  they 
think.  Yc  sec,  I've  been  bothcrin'  them  too  much  for 
426 


-"SSTiswwf!:*.'-^  '  -^r^.t '" 


"  Fortune  and  victory  sit  on  thy  helm  "  427 


1 


me  frinds.  Yis ;  you're  roite,  Mike ;  Oi  did  trow  in  a 
word  fur  yc,  an'  ^ood  it  is  ov  ye  to  retnenibcr  it  at  this 
toime,  an'  glad  I  am  that  yc  got  the  job,  aUbough  a  poor 
enough  wan  it  was,  an"  it's  a  better  wan  ye'll  get  if  ever 
Oive  the  cbanct  to  give  it  to  ye.  Ah,  well,  Mike,  it's  all 
in  the  day's  work.  It'll  make  nu  differ  a  hoondrcd  years 
from  now." 

Maguire's  brogue  deepened  and  broadened  in  ratio 
with  the  accent  of  his  listener.  This  change  of  dialect 
seemed  to  be  automatic  with  him.  He  talked  to  (Irady 
almost  as  correctly  as  if  he  had  had  that  college  education 
which  he  affected  sometimes  to  despise  and  un  other  oc- 
cas'ons  to  envy.  He  spent  no  money ;  he  engaged  no 
workers ;  he  called  no  meetings ;  he  made  no  si)ccches. 
His  was  the  attitude  o'f  an  already  defeated  candidate, 
but  one  who  took  his  overthrow  with  ])hilosoi)hy  and 
great  good-nature,  thanking  (iod  he  still  had  bis  friends, 
and  as  long  as  they  were  left  him  he  had  nothing  to  com- 
plain of.  The  united  opposition  were  lulled  into  a  dan- 
gerous sense  of  security  by  the  seeming  inaction  of  the 
vicfm.  They  were  watching  for  tricks  which  were  not 
to  be  ])layed  on  this  occasion,  and  so  time,  opportunity 
and  ( ftort  were  wasted.  Still  it  is  doubtful  if  they  could 
have  defeated  the  popular  Maguire  by  any  combination 
they  might  have  made,  or  any  candidate  they  could  have 
secured,  much  less  with  a  silk-stockinged  potentate  from 
the  richer  portion  of  the  city. 

On  election  day  Maguire  took  no  chances :  he  worked 
like  a  newspaper  man  with  a  big  late  fire  on  his  hands, 
and  the  particulars  of  the  various  insurances  to  be  got  be- 
fore the  forms  were  closed.  Pat  was  everywhere,  al- 
ways with  a  joke  on  his  lips  and  a  good  word  to  say  even 
to  those  officials  at  the  polling  booths  who  were  secretly 
against  h'm.  The  republicans  were  anxious  about  this 
contest  because  state  and  presidential  elections  were 
drawing  near,  and  if  they  could  seat  the'r  man  from  a 
district  so  admittedly  democratic,  the  general  effect  would 
be  good.  The  Tammany  chiefs  cared  little  for  the  com- 
ing state  election  and  nothing  at  all  for  the  presidential. 
They  v/crc  too  secure  of  their  position  in  the  metropolis 


■fjms'P.'s  -vj-' 


428 


The  Victors 


I 


the  republican  candidate 
had  been  running;.  Ma- 
district  with  him,  as  the 


to  worry  about  one  precinct  going  nominally  against 
them. 

Wheu  the  returns  came  in, 
must  have  wondered  why  he 
guire  had  sinii)ly  mo])ped  the 

phrase  went.  Even  the  normal  weakness  of  the  repub- 
lican vote  in  that  district  was  a  Goliath  o:  suffrage  com- 
pared with  the  i)uny  total  Maguire's  opponent  had  re- 
ceived. There  had  been  a  snow-under,  indeed,  but  it  was 
the  republican  who  was  beneath  the  drifts. 

For  the  next  few  days  Maguire  was  a  centre  of  inter- 
est for  the  newspapers.  Reporters  crowded  his  flat,  and 
he  was  hail-fellow-well-met  with  evcrv  one  of  them. 
Object  to  be  interviewed?  Certainlv  not.  lie  was  a 
poor  man  ;  had  spent  no  money  ;  h.ad  no  money  to  spend ; 
but  there  was  one  thing  he  did  have,  and  that  was  an  un- 
bmited  faith  in  the  people  and  in  honesty.  Be  honest 
and  put  your  trust  in  the  people,  and  you  are  all  right. 
The  republicans  may  have  had  money ;  they  usually  had ; 
he  knew  nothing  about  it  in  this  case ;  he  hoped  the  elec- 
tion had  been  as  square  on  the  other  side,  as  it  certainly 
was  on  his ;  but  money  was  not  all  it  was  cracked  up  to 
be.  He  believed  the  mass  of  voters  were  incorruptible, 
and  he  thought  he  had  done  something  to  prove  that  con- 
tention. Then  finally  there  was  another  thing  he  wished 
to  say : 

There  was  a  faint  rumour  floating  about  that  a  deal 
had  been  arranged  between  Tammany  and  the  republi- 
can party.  The  returns  ought  to  show  how  groundless 
that  libel  had  been.  Tammany  was  not  treacherous. 
He  had  had  the  hearty  undivided  support  of  Tammany, 
as  the  result  showed.  He  had  the  honour  of  knowing 
personally  the  chiefs  of  that  much  maligned  society,  and 
they  were  to  a  man  true  to  democratic  principles  and  the 
democratic  candidate. 

This  was  pleasant  reading  for  the  official  republicans, 
who  knew  there  had  been  a  deal,  and  already  were  more 
than  suspicious  that  they  had  been  betraved.  It  was  idso 
])leasant  reading  for  the  officials  of  Tammany  Hall,  who 
dare  not  publicly  deny  the  eulogies  Maguire  pronounced 


.t:^.-.-f" 


'*  Fortune  and  victory  sit  on  thy  helm  "  429 

upon  them,  and  whose  private  assurances  to  the  chiefs  of 
the  republican  party  were  greeted  with  incredulous  scorn. 
Majfuire  received  a  peremptory  command  from  head- 
quarters to  keep  his  mouth  shut  when  reporters  were 
about,  and  he  cheerfully  obeyed,  but  the  mischief  was  al- 
ready done;  the  always  latent  distrust  of  Tammany's 
good  faith  had  been  aroused  to  full  activity,  which  was 
very  inconvenient  with  a  big  election  at  liand  and  im- 
portant bargains  to  be  made  with  suspicious  opponents. 

It  was  in  John  Grady's  flat  that  the  first  meeting  of  the 
two  friends  after  the  contest  took  place.  Maguire's  un- 
expected return  had  been  a  technical  triumph  for  Grady ; 
he  had  warned  the  chiefs  to  conciliate  this  man  and  give 
him  a  chance.  He  had  beseeched  them  to  be  fair  with 
him.  They  had  ignored  both  warning  and  supplication. 
Now  Maguire,  ostentatiously  bowing  to  their  commands, 
had  actually  defeated  them  single-handed  in  a  strong 
citadel  of  their  own  selection.  He  had  placed  them  in  a 
situation  where  they  could  only  squirm ;  where  they  dare 
not  complain  aloud  even  to  their  own  friends. 

"  Well,  Pat,  you're  a  great  man,"'  cried  Grady  as  the 
other  came  in. 

"  I  told  you  I'd  learn  them  boys  something  about  elec- 
tions," said  Maguire  complacently  as  he  tlung  himself 
down  in  an  easy  chair. 

"What's  the  next  move,  Pat?  Are  you  going  to 
march  on  the  City  Hall  with  your  cohorts  and  demand 
recognition  ?  " 

"  Divil  a  march  and  divil  a  recog.  That  gang's  no 
good,  John.  There's  nothing  to  be  got  from  them,  not 
even  horse-sense.  They've  just  gumpiion  enough  to 
hang  on  to  their  places,  but  not  the  horse-sense  to  get  in 
out  of  the  rain  when  they  see  a  storm  coming,  as  the  old 
woman  said.  John,  I'm  going  to  turn  the  rascals  out. 
Are  you  with  me?  '' 

"  You  mean  you're  going  to  turn  republican  ?  " 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it.  Are  you  with  me ?  That's  the  ques- 
tion. I'm  in  for  the  biggest  throw  of  the  game.  The 
republicans  will  own  New  York  for  the  next  four  years, 
an'  it  will  be  fun  to  watch  them.  They  won't  know  in 
the  least  what  to  do  with  it." 


*  il 


ri! 


li 


i; 


I 


430 


The  Victors 


"  That's  a  large  contract,  Magure.  How  are  you  go- 
ing to  work  it  ?  " 

"  Oh,  it's  easy.  But  answer  my  question.  Are  you 
with  me?  " 

"  Yes.  Of  course  Id  hke  to  know  wliat  you're  going 
to  do,  or  rather  what  you  think  you're  going  to  do." 

"  Think  nothing.  I  tell  you  what  it  is,  Grady,  you've 
got  shaky  on  me  this  while  back." 

"  You  got  shaky  on  yourself,  apparently.  You've  been 
moping  round  saying  you  were  a  lost  man.  I  gave  you 
the  best  advice  I  could,  and  stood  up  for  you  with  the 
Boss.  I  did  what  I  could  for  you  always.  I  knew  there 
was  a  dead  .set  against  you  at  headquarters,  and  had  been 
for  years,  and  I  saw  that  you  seemed  discouraged  your- 
sel  f ,  so  what  was  a  man  to  think  ?  They'd  have  broken 
you  long  ago  if  it  wasn't  for  the  Boss,  and  he  backed  you 
up  in  a  half-hearted  way,  largely  on  my  account.  You've 
won  a  trick  in  the  game,  Pat,  but  if  you  imagine  you  are 
out  of  the  woods  yet  you're  mistaken.  Tammany  never 
forgives  and  never  forgets.  Xow,  honestly,  Pat,  did  you 
think  yourself  you  were  going  to  be  elected,  or  was  the 
result  as  much  a  surprise  to  you  as  to  the  rest  of  us  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  thought  I  was  going  to  be  elected,  but  I 
wasn't  sure  of  it.  It  was  an  experiment,  as  I  told  you 
i)efore.  If  the  average  man  was  true  to  his  word  I  was 
elected ;  if  lie  was  a  liar,  I  was  defeated.  That  was  the 
point  I  wanted  to  settle.  I  cared  nothing  for  the  alder- 
manship, one  way  or  other,  beyond  that.  John,  1  talk 
to  you  as  I  talk  to  no  one  else,  and  I'll  tell  you  now  that 
I've  had  four  objects  in  life  since  I  settled  down  in  New 
York.  The  first  is  to  be  as  good  a  husband  to  my  wife 
as  the  Lord  will  allow  me.  She's  the  finest  woman  on 
earth,  John,  as  you  know,  and  I'm  not  fit  to  tie  her  shoes. 
I'm  an  honest  man,  but  she  goes  far  beyond  me  in 
honesty;  indeed  she  has  queer,  unworkable  notions  on  the' 
subject;  I  had  a  little  tiff  with  her  on  that  before  we 
were  married,  and  it  leanit  me  a  lesson.  By  a  merciful 
dispensation  nf  Providence  a  woman  is  no  good  at  fig- 
ures. She  knows  my  salary  lias  been  two  thousand  a 
year;  it  seemed  immense  to  her  when  she  first  heard  it. 


¥=r-"^ 


"  Fortune  and  victory  sit  on  thy  helm"  431 

Well,  she's  been  spending  five  thousand  a  vcar  right 
along,  and  it's  never  struck  her  how  all  that  conies  out  of 
the  two  thousand,  (iod  bless  her,  and  I  hope  it  never 
will,  although  I've  been  worrying  myself  for  one  exjjlana- 
t:on  after  another,  if  the  matter  should  happen  to  crop 
up.  I  was  troubled  a  good  deal  about  it  at  first,  but 
when  the  boy  and  the  girl  came  along,  one  after  the  other, 
her  attention  has  been  entirely  taken  up  with  the  kids, 
and  she  has  less  thought  of  paper  and  pencil  than  ever 
she  had.  So  my  minds  easier  on  that  score.  My  secoml 
object  has  been  to  get  enough  money  scraped  together 
that  I  could  stand  a  few  years  of  idleness,  without  me  or 
my  family  being  put  to  any  inconvenience,  and,  as  I 
showed  you,  that  is  accomplished.  The  third  point  wrs 
the  study  of  Tammany  from  the  inside.  I'm  convinced 
that  Tammany  can  be  defeated  right  along  at  every  elec- 
tion, if  the  other  party  has  the  sense  to  go  about  the  busi- 
ness in  the  right  way.  If  Tammany  only  knew  it,  she 
needs  me  worse  than  I  need  her." 

"  You've  got  a  good  opinion  of  yourself,  Patrick." 

"  I  have.  It's  necessary  in  this  world  if  you  want  to 
get  along.  The  fourth  clause  is  a  study  of  the  people. 
Can  tlu-y  be  depended  on?  I  think  they  can.  I've  been 
elected  in  what  the  righteous  would  call  the  most  corrupt 
district  in  New  York  entirely  on  my  shape.  I've  spent 
no  money  except  for  a  little  beer  on  a  dry  day.  and  I've 
beaten  the  secret  opposition  of  the  most  powerful  organ- 
isation in  the  state,  and  the  open  opposition  of  the  second 
strongest.     Am   I  speaking  the  truth  ?  " 

"  You  are,  Pat.  Well,  what  do  you  make  of  it  all  ? 
Do  you  think  organisation  is  no  good  ?  " 

"  Organisation  is  pretty  nearly  everything,  but  not 
quite.  There  are  other  ingredients,  just  as  in  the  com- 
pounding of  mixed  drinks.  If  you  leave  one  or  two  ele- 
ments oul  of  a  cocktail  you  make  a  disgusting  mixture 
instead  of  a  delight  to  the  palate.'" 

"  Come  to  the  point,  Maguire.  Are  you  going  to  fight 
Tammany  ?  " 

"  I  am' not." 

"  I  thought  you  proposed  to  put  in  the  republicans  a 
while  since."' 


^'1  , 


1  ^       i      ' 
_ 


432 


The  Victors 


"I  do." 

"  Oh,  I  pivc  it  up.     What's  the  answer?  " 

"  Are  ye  convinced  that  they're  no  good  down  at  the 
City  Hall,  that  lot?" 

"  They're  in  power  all  the  same." 

"  They  are.  I  have  waited  two  or  three  days  to  see 
what  they  would  do.  They  sent  me  one  message.  Do 
ye  know  what  it  was?  It  was  to  the  eflfect  that  Alder- 
man Patrick  Maguire  was  to  hold  his  yawp.  He  wasn't 
to  talk  any  more  to  them  villainous  reporters.  And  Pat 
answers  humbly  that  he'll  do  what  he's  told.  Now  the 
reporters  are  a  very  decent  lot  of  hard-working  men. 
and  I  like  them.  They  come  in  handy  when  useful 
misinformation  is  to  he  disseminated  among  a  discrimi- 
nating public.  Now  do  you  know  what  Pd  have  done 
if  I  was  Bradley?  The  minute  the  returns  were  in  and 
I  saw  how  badly  I  got  left,  Pd  a-shook  the  mugs  that  led 
me  into  the  trap,  and  Pd  a-come  direct  to  Pat  Maguire, 
and  Pd  a-slung  one  arm  over  his  shouder.  '  Pat,  me 
boy,'  Pd  say,  '  you're  a  daisy.  Pve  tried  to  trip  ye  up,' 
Pd  say,  '  and  Pve  planted  me  foot  on  me  own  nose,  an' 
the  swellin's  painful,'  Pd  say.  '  After  this,  Patrick 
acoushla,  we'll  try  no  more  tricks  on  each  other,  for 
there's  plenty  of  the  enemy  to  experiment  on.  An'  so, 
Patrick,  me  honey,  come  down  with  me  to  the  City  Hall ; 
Pve  a  nice  little  assortment  of  offices  all  laid  out  in  a  row, 
pretty  an'  regular  like,  an'  ye'll  take  yer  pick  of  the  wan 
that  best  suits  yer  sedenthry  habits,'  Pd  say.  r>ut  in- 
stead of  that  there  comes  an  order,  '  Yer  talkin'  through 
yer  hat ;  put  yer  hat  on  yer  head,  ye  fool,  an'  snap  a  pad- 
lock on  your  Hps.'  There's  no  hope  for  you  or  me  in  that 
crowd,  Grady.  They  haven't  sense  enough  to  pound 
sand.     We've  got  to  turn  them  out." 

"Agreed;  but  how?  If  you're  not  going  to  figb 
them,  what's  your  plan?  '' 

"  John,  I  couldn't  do  this  thing  alone.  I  need  the  help 
of  one  man.  and  that  man  is  you.  Yon  are  a  member  of 
the  University  Club,  an'  this  club  an'  that  club  that 
wouldn't  look  at  a  gossoon  like  me.  In  other  words, 
judge,  you  are  in  with  the  silk-stockinged  brigade." 


IM.; 


•'  Fortune  and  victory  sit  on  tliy  helm  "  433 

"  C)h,  you  want  mc  to  turn  a,i,'ainst  Taintnanv'  " 
"  XothinRr  of  the  sort.     These  club  javs  must  look  on 
you  as  a  lost  sheep,  and  wonder  whv  vcu  soil  v(nir  finL'.rs 
with  our  kind  of  politics.     They're"  au  fullv  careful     f 
their  finjrers.  those   fellows.     That's  why  t'luyll   never 
shake  hands  with  a  working-man  except  at  election  time 
\crv  well.     The  talk  is  all  of  politics  in  the  clnhs  just 
now.    Im   told,   because   the   pai)ers   are   howlintr  about 
reform.      Its  a  lovely  theme,   and  a  jr,„„l   writer  can 
work  hmiself  up  on  it  till  you'd  think  he  was  an^-rv  abo,;t 
somethuif^.     Now  you  sit  round  in  the  club,  n„d   vour 
head  and  look  wise  and  smile  mvsteriously  now  and  t'hen 
and    drop  a   hint  casually   that  if   thev   onlv  knew    h..w 
easy  It  was  done  they'd  quit  talking:  and  di    soMu•tl1im,^ 
lien  they  11  ask  your  own  question.  "How  is  it  to  be 
done?      Dont  bite  tcx)  readily.     You  tackle  the  repub- 
icans  first.     Get   them    to  jrjve   you   a  list   of  the   men 
they  11  support  at  the  head  of  the  ticket,  and  tell  tlum  if 
they  include  two  or  three  honest  democrats,  as  they'll 
call  them,  it  won't  do  no  harm.     Get  another  list  from 
the  county  democrats  and  find  out  specially  what  decent 
republicans  they'll  support.     The  same  from  the  German 
reform  society,  and  every  one  of  the  other  anti-Tammanv 
leagues.     All   ri^dit.     There'll   be   one   or  two,   perhaps 
three,  names  common  to  all  the  lists.     Trv  to  '^i.t  them  to 
unite  on  the  best  man.     They  won't,     ile'll'be  touchy 
and  wi  1  withdraw.     There's  not  one  of  them  wouldn't 
throw  down  <he  game  if  you  don't  come  to  him  with  the 
nomination  vn  one  hand  and  ver  hat  in  the  other.     They'll 
all  serve  the.r  country,  but  don't  ask  thein  to  reco'Mi'ise 
a  ])oor  man  on  the  shtreet  between  polling  times      This  is 
where  delicate  handling  will  W  needed.     There  will  be  a 
hitch  with  the  first  man  and  the  second,  but  very  likely 
they  may  unite  on  the  third      It's  my  hope  he'll  fx;  some 
reform  crank  that'll  enforce  the  laws  and  develop  into 
the  most  unpopular  man  in  the  state  four  years  from 
now,  but  any  mugwump  with  good  intentions  will  do. 
there's  nothing  like  an   iqiright.   conscientious   citizen 
strong  on  reform  and  pure  government,  for  turning  the 
election  over  to  the  other  party  next  innings.     Will  vou 
do  It.  Grady?" 
28 


434 


The  Victors 


1 


; 


v\- 


-J 

!  » 


*'  I'll  try  my  best,  but  I  think  vou  are  the  man  for  the 
job.  Wouldn't  it  be  better  for  me  to  arranj;e  a  meeting 
between  you  and  these  persons?  1  could  accomplish  that 
without  any  trouble." 

"  Xo,  nc.  1  could  make  no  headway  with  them.  1 
don't  talk  their  lingo." 

"There's  nothing;  wrong  with  y»iur  lingo  as  far  as  1 
can  discover,  and  you  have  a  most  persuasive  tongue, 

I'atrick." 

'•  That's  all  right.  John,  but  I  know  my  failings,  and 
that's  where  I  have  the  advantage  over  Tammany.  You 
do  as  I  tell  vou.  and  keep  me  posted,  whde  I  stay  m  the 
background."  This  newspaper  deni.and  for  reform  wdl 
help  things  on  a  bit,  an*  begobs  we'll  give  'em  reform 
till  thev're  sick  of  the  dose." 

After  much  negotiation  and  various  narrow  escapes 
from  shipwreck  the  numerous  reform  parties  united  and 
presented  a  solid  front  to  their  confident  opponents.  One 
stormy  November  day  the  country  and  the  world  beyond 
knew  that  Tammanv  had  been  crushed  finally  and  for 
ever.  It  was  a  clean  sweep;  a  famous  victory.  Much 
oratory  was  spent  over  it.  The  result  showed  that  the 
great  heart  of  New  York  was  all  right  if  you  made  the 
correct  appeal  to  it.  The  newspapers  justly  prided  them- 
selves on  their  influence  in  bringing  about  so  «lesirable 
an  occurrence.  New  York  was  purged  of  her  bad  gov- 
ernment and  could  now  hold  up  her  head  proudly  among 
the  great  cities  of  the  world.  Civilisation  was  not  a  fail- 
ure and  the  Caucasian  was  not  played  out. 

Inside  Tammany  Hall  there  was  bitterness  and  vexa- 
tion of  spirit.  Each  faction  blamed  the  other  and  all  the 
others.  The  leaders  were  unanimous  on  one  course  of 
action  onlv.  and  that  was  the  emphatic  cursing  of  the 
Boss  IJradlev  washed  his  hands  of  the  whole  turmoil 
and  retired  to  his  farm  in  northern  New  York,  where  his 
frugal  savings  insured  him  a  life  of  ease  and  freedom 
from  worry,  leaving  the  Kilkenny  cats  to  fight  it  out 
among  themselves. 

Was  there  a  man  undismayed?    Yes,  there  was  one. 
Patrick  Maguire  was  true  to  Irs  party  throughout,  and 


•'  Fortune  and  victory  sit  on  tljy  helm  "  435 

he  went  down  with  tht-  rest  in  the  disaster  that  had  ovir- 
whclnied  it.  His  advice  had  iHcn  i^norid  and  hi.  warn- 
ings unliccdcd.  and  if  ever  there  was  a  jarson  wlio  was 
justified  in  saying  "  I  told  you  so.'  I'atricK  MaKmire  was 
that  man.  But  he  made  no  use  of  liis  opportunity.  He 
talked  in  most  friendly  fashion  with  each  of  the  loaders 
who  now  were  ^'lad  to  have  any  ont  speak  to  tiieni  civ- 
illy when  they  had  nothing,'  to  j,Mve  au^v  and  were  them- 
selves bereft.  It  was  a  pleasure  and  also  a  rare  event  to 
mee*  a  Tammany  man  who  was  not  swearintr.  Majjuire 
persuaded  each  patriot  that  if  that  patriot's  advice  had 
been  followed  thinjjs  would  have  tunu-rl  nut  differently. 
He  was  a  mi.xture  of  soothing  sirup  and  consolation, 
without  a  trace  r)f  malice  in  the  draught.  Fhe  leaders  saw 
that  they  had  been  entirely  mistaken  in  the  voung  man 
and  unjustly  suspicious  of  him.  In  time  of  trouble  kind 
words  are  more  than  coronets,  a-.d  Maguire's  well-pro- 
portioned flattery  comforted  many  an  aching  heart. 

"  We  treated  ye  durty,  that's  what  we  did.  We  turned 
ye  down,  or  tried  to,  an"  it's  ashpmed  I  am  ov  me  own 
share  in  it,  on  a  day  whin  there's  few  to  give  me  the  glad 
hand  as  you've  done.     An'  Til  not  forget  it,  aither." 

But  Pat  would  have  no  one  blame  himself.  It  was  all 
right,  he  said  cheerfully,  and  he  was  sure  the  speaker 
had  very  little  to  do  with  if,  which  the  spcaki  i  would 
somewhat  sl.amefacedly  admit.  It  was  all  Bradley's 
doing. 

In  the  moment  of  gloom  following  the  election  any  one 
could  have  bought  Tammany  for  thirty  cents,  a  sum  fre- 
quently mentioned  by  its  adlierencs  a.s'  bearing  a  marked 
resemblance  to  it.  Maguire  hai)pened  to  liave  a  quarter 
and  a  nickel  in  his  trousers  pocket  at  the  time.  Dur- 
ing the  immediate  exasperation  of  a  crushing  defeat  few 
people  have  the  faculty  of  fixing  tlicir  attention  on  some 
object  four  years  ahead.  Later  on,  when  the  future 
loomed  up  more  distinctly  in  the  distance  and  the  body- 
guard of  the  Tammany  Tiger  found  that  the  animal  was 
not  so  badly  injured  in  the  collision  as  had  been  generally 
supposed,  they  made  an  attempt  to  get  into  their  old  po- 
sitions by  its  side. 


436 


The  Victors 


Then  they  found  that  the  Rinial  Mapuire  had  got  a 
firm  K'rip  "»  the  collar  of  the  hrute.  an«l  tlie  Rreat  cat 
snarled  dangerously   if  any  one  attempted  to  interfere 
with  its  keeper.     And  this  was  hut  natural  ent^URh.     It 
was  Maguire  who  had  lM)und  up  the  lacerated  limhs  and 
applied  the  healing  lotion.     When  others  had  hut  kicks 
to  hestow,  his  soothing  hand  smoothed  the  rufllcd  fur. 
I  le  had  been  the  first  to  declare  that  the  accident  was  not 
fatal ;  that  there  was  life  in  the  ohl  beast  yet.     Without 
opposition  Maguire  had  somehow  fitted  himself  into  the 
place  left  vacant  by  the  desertion  of  Bradley,  and  even 
when  the  post  began  to  acquire  renewed  value  there  was 
no  strenuous  opposition  to  his  occupancy,  for  sweet  as 
nectar    flowed    the  milk    and    honey    of  his    promises. 
Kvery  one  knew  him  to  be  a  >ieUHng.  pliant  man,  ever 
ready  to  do  the  bidding  of  the  humblest;  the  one  person 
in  the  organisation  who  had  never  rebelled ;  so  there  was 
no  fear  but  that  he  might  easily  be  ousted  if  it  seemed 
desirable  to  put  another  in  his  stead.     And  so  Maguire's 
grip  on  the  collar  became  fir  ner  and  firmer.     He  spent 
all   his   time   perfecting   the   organisation,   keeping   the 
older  hands  gently  in  the  back  seats,  a  task  easier  of  ac- 
complishment because  there   was  little  inducement   for 
hard  work,  with  no  pay-day  coming  round.     Why  waste 
energy  with  no  spoils  in  the  foreground  ?     Gradually  but 
effectually  he  placed  the  young  and  enthusiastic  in  the 
vanguard,  willing  fighters  who  owed  their  positions  en- 
tirely to  him. 

Meanwhile  the  Reform  government  had  been  doing 
famously.  It  enforced  the  laws  without  fear  or  favour, 
to  the  amazement  of  citizens,  who  had  looked  on  various 
enactments  as  mere  vote-catching  caprices  of  former 
state  legislatures,  long  since  forgotten ;  enactments  never 
meant  for  any  practical  purpose,  and  the  shoe  pinched 
multitudes  of  very  estimable  people.  The  City  Hall  was 
pure,  and  taxation  slightly  on  the  upward  grade.  The 
voters  had  intended  the  laws  to  be  honestly  applied.  ()f 
course,  but  not  against  themselves.  It  was  the  other  fel- 
low they  had  been  thinking  of  when  they  dropped  their 
tickets  into  the  ballot  box.    The  New  York  Evening 


"  Fortune  and  victory  sit  on  thy  helm  "  437 

Post  sliovvi'.l  In  iudisputablo  luj;ic  that  tin-  Ucf(»niicTs  had 
rt'dccniffl  their  pledges  and  dt-scrvcd  waII  oi  the  electo- 
rate, but  the  sal()nnkee|)er  oil  the  corner  took  in  a 
cheaper  paper  and  so  missed  this  excellent  reasoninj,'. 

When  the  four  years  elapsed.  Taniinanv  was  rein- 
stated by  an  overwhelniinjj  majority.  ex-Indj;e  (irady 
was  mayor  of  the  city,  and  F'atrick  .\iaj,'uire.  holdinj,'  no 
office  cither  elective  or  nominative,  w.i  umlispnted  IJoss 
of  New  York,  as  |)o\verfnl  as  the  czir  within  his  own 
dominions,  and  as  popular  as  Victoria  was  within  hers. 


■C'»i'«t.fl*-:-*(v "•-«• 


TfS^Tf 


CHAPTER    II  I 


FIRR    THAT     SKVKKS    DAV     I'lUJAI     NIGHT 


i 


' 


It  is  well  that  I'syche  is  not  the  patron  of  married 
vvonicn ;  the  hot  candle  grease  of  too  intimate  curiosity 
might  cause  marital  happiness  to  evaporate  as  does  a  fluff 
of  gun-cotton  under  the  torch  of  incandescent  iron. 
Where  ignorance  is  hliss,  why  experiment  with  the  re- 
mainder of  the  phrase? 

Mrs.  Charlotte  Maguirc  was  not  of  an  inquiring  na- 
ture ;  she  took  the  goods  the  gods  sent  her  without  ques- 
tion, and  consequently  was  happy.  Patrick  proved  a 
model  hushand,  naturally  of  an  affectionate  disposition, 
with  a  firm  belief  that  all  women  were  innately  better 
than  all  men.  He  devoted  himself  to  his  wife  with  the 
same  ardour  that  he  devoted  himself  tc  .nlic  affairs,  and 
was  therefore  a  success  both  as  a  husnaiid  and  a  poli- 
tician. He  knew  that  his  wife  was  infinitely  his  superior 
in  religious  feeling  and  in  moral  principle, and  he  admired 
these  qualities  in  her.  which  he  would  have  considered  of 
no  u.sc  to  himself  in  the  everyday  v.'ork  of  the  world,  as 
valueless  as  a  pretty  Japanese  umbrella  in  a  thunder- 
storm, as  a  silk  gown  in  a  blizzard.  Rut,  nevertheless, 
he  protected  her  from  all  knowledge  of  his  actions  outside 
their  flat.  Tf  a  newspaper  called  him  a  thief  he  took  care 
that  the  journal  did  not  penetrate  into  his  home.  He 
saw  to  it  that  her  friends  were  selected  from  classes  little 
conversant  with  politics,  and  unlikely  to  disturb  his  wifes 
overv.'helming  belief  in  him.  It  must  not  be  imagined 
that  Maguire  supposed  himself  engaged  in  anything  ne- 
farious. Far  otlicrwise.  He  seemed  to  believe  himself 
an  honest  man,  and  frequently  intimated  as  much.  In 
their  early  days  his  practical  views  had  come  into  colli- 
sion with  her  morbid  conscientiousness,  and  he  found  it 

438 


pttt 


*iP# 


"  Fire  that  severs  da}-  from  niglit "     439 

impossible  to  make  any  headway  against   her  Utopian 
fancies. 

Even  then  he  had  not  tried  for  long  to  convert  her  to 
his  own  way  of  thinking,  but  had  taken  the  line  of  the 
least  resistance;  had  pretended  to  be  a  proselyte  of  hers, 
yet  without  depriving  himself  of  the  substantial  benefits 
accruing  from  his  own  mode  of  action;  he  had  accom- 
plished the  feat  of  having  his  cake  and  eating  it  as 
well.  As  a  person  living  in  the  infected  atmosphere  of 
the  city  might  regard  an  ethereal  Icing  habituated  to  the 
pure  thin  microbele:s  air  of  the  mountain  top,  so  Ma- 
guire  regarded  his  wife;  the  medium  she  breathed  was 
all  very  well  for  her.  Lut  it  gave  him  palpitation  of  the 
heart  and  an  overworking  of  the  lungs.  He  knew  that 
his  arguinents  were  most  logical,  but  experience  had 
taught  him  that  they  would  not  have  been  held  valid  by 
her,  just  as  a  borrower's  note  may  be  good,  and  vet  is  re- 
fused as  collateral  by  a  bank.  S  )  being  a  man  who  loved 
an  easy  frictionless  life,  who  wanted  to  see  all  about  him 
contented  and  happy,  he  look  pains  to  render  impossible 
an  encounter — a  conflict  of  opinion — the  outcome  of 
which  was  by  no  means  certain. 

Soinetimes  the  more  cynical  (Jrady  aroused  him  to  elo- 
quent anger  by  touching  sarcasticallv  on  the  methods 
that  w^ere  enriching  them  both.  A  university  education, 
Mat,niire  frequently  remarked,  had  tainted  the  virgin 
])ui|ity  of  Grady's  native  innocence.  Grady  had  no  de- 
lusions. He  took  the  easy  path  to  wealth  because,  like  the 
proprietor  of  the  shanty  restaurant  out  West  who  charged 
five  do'lars  for  a  ham  sandwich,  he  needed  the  monev, 
but  he  never  tried  to  convince  himself  that  he  was  a 
George  Washington,  although  he  loved  to  goad  Maguire 
into  a  defence  of  the  late  Williatn  M.  Tweed.  However, 
the  15oss  eared  little  what  any  one  said  U)  him,  if  it  were 
n(Jt  said  in  the  presence  of  his  wife. 

Lottie,  from  the  first,  took  a  keen  delight  in  the 
pageantry  of  New  York,  and  lier  husband  was  rarely  too 
bu;  y  to  be  her  attendant.  A  box  at  any  theatre  was  his 
for  the  asking  and  as  he  experienced  a  b  >yish  joy  in  the 
performances,    the    two  were    frequent    patrons  of    the 


440 


The  Victors 


drama.  The  history  of  their  domestic  feUcity  would 
have  been  a  most  commonplace  recital  were  it  not  for  a 
disaster  that  came  upon  them  with  an  unexpected  sud- 
denness, as  if  implacable  Providence  had  determined  to 
show  how  futile  are  the  triumphs  of  man. 

They  were  returning:  home  from  the  theatre  together 
one  winter  night,  some  three  months  after  Maguire's 
great  victory  had  placed  him  at  the  head  of  the  city,  when 
a  fire  engine  dashed  up  the  thoroughfare  past  them,  leav- 
ing a  trail  of  smoke  and  sparks  behind  it,  vibrating  the 
air  with  the  harsh  metallic  clang  of  its  gong.  The  sight 
was  too  common  to  attract  attention,  night  or  day,  but 
Maguire,  always  interested  in  the  department,  asked  a 
policeman  where  the  fire  was. 

"  I  dunno,  sir,"  answered  the  officer  respectfully,  rec- 
ognising his  questioner ;  "  but  it  must  be  serious,  for  that 
engine's  answering  the  second  call." 

They  walked  on  still  unsuspecting  until  the  nearer  they 
approached  to  their  own  street  the  more  evident  it  be- 
came that  the  conflagration  was  in  their  neighbourhood. 

"  O,  Patsey  I "  cried  his  wife,  clutching  his  arm 
tightlv,  "  what  if  it  should  be  our — " 

"Nonsense,  nonsense,  Lottie.  Tlie  building's  fire- 
proof, and  there's  all  New  York  to  burn  besides  it." 

But  he  unconsciously  quickened  his  pace.  At  the 
street  corner,  turning  into  a  canyon  of  red  light,  a  police- 
man, seemingly  on  the  watch,  stepped  in  front  of  the 
woman  and  addressed  the  man. 

"  Mr.  Maguire,  the  Mayor  has  a  closed  carriage  here 
for  you  ;  you're  to  drive  to  hib  tlat." 

".A.  closed  carriage!     What  for?" 

"  For  the  lady,  sir."  Before  he  could  explain  further. 
Lottie,  with  a  scream,  sprai'.g  from  them  and  daslieil 
down  the  red  street.  Her  hur,'  nd  tried  to  overtake  her, 
and  the  officer,  with  a  quick  signal  to  the  driver  of  the 
carriage,  sped  after  them,  coming  up  with  Maguire,  wlio 
gasped : 

"  Is  it — is  it  the  Kalamazoo?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,  and  a  bad  fire." 

"Have  any — how  about — those  inside?" 


jiiii 


"  Fire  that  severs  day  from  night  "     441 

"  Not  many"s  R-ot  out.  Vm  afraid,  sir" 

On  tlie  margin  of  the  dense  crowd  a  mad  woman  was 
strugghnff  with  a  stalwart  puhceman,  who  repelled  her 
roughly.  ' 

"  Turn  back  out  of  this !  "  he  roared 

;;  Oh,  my  children  !     My  children  !     My  children  •  " 

^^  Miut  up  your  noise ;  there's  more  than  yours  there." 

Ma  u°re  •'^''''         ''    ^"'"^'"'^  ^''"^  "^'''"'  "*^''''""'  "  ^''^^''  ^'^''■•'• 

The  truculence  of  the  first  vanished  at  the  sound  of  the 
name. 

flJi^^^'i"  ■?'^^''']''  '•^'^T^i'-'".^  fflance  at  the  column  of 
flame  with  its  black  copmg  „f  smoke,  groane.l.  an<l  tried 
to  induce  his  wife  to  enter  the  carriage.  She  fouo-ht  all 
three  with  incredible  strength,  and  at  la.st  her  husbaiul 
picked  her  up  bodily,  she  struggling,  tearing  at  his  face. 
screaming.  "  My  children  !  My  children  !  -  and.  ,lu,s  de- 
mented, he  forced  her  into  the  carriage.  Tlie  man  on  the 
bo.x  needed  no  instructions,  but  drove  quickly  away  out 
ot  the  crimson  glare  and  the  heated  atmosphere,  throb- 
bing with  the  pulsations  of  the  fire  engines 

"  Oh    my  children !     Let  me  get  to  them !     Coward 
coward,  how  dare  you  take  me  from  them?     If  vou  are' 
afraid  to  go  where  they  are.  I'm  not.     Why  d..  vou  stop 
nic?     I  am  their  mother,  their  mother,  their  wref^hed 
wretched  mother !  "' 

She  tried  to  smash  the  rattling  glass  that  had  been 
dravvn  up.  He  caught  her  two  wrists  in  his  firm  grii) 
and  held  her  helpless. 

"  O,  Lottie.  Lottie,  Lottie,"  he  groaned.  "  dear  girl 
hush.  Hush,  Lottie.  We  can  do  nothing— nothing  but 
bear  it.  ' 

"Nothing?  I  could  have  saved  them  if  [  had  been 
there.  I  would  have  climbed  down  the  naked  bricks  with 
them.  \\  by  did  we  live  in  that  place?  ^'ou  said  it  was 
lireproof  Why  were  there  no  ladders,  that  I  might  have 
gone  up  to  them  from  the  outside?  Oh,  that  furnace— 
•'i^t  furnace!     It  will  bu,;i  in  my  brain  forever." 

"You're  killing  yourself,  darling,  and  vou're  killing 
nie.  An  iron  clutch  seemed  closing  in'  on  his  own 
l)reaking  heart. 


442 


The  Victors 


I 


"  W'iiy  (lid  I  leave  them — leave  them  in  another's  care 
— my  own — my  very  own  flesh  and  blood — to  others — 
and  ire,  their  mother — and — me — me — me,  their  mother, 
laughing  in  the  theatre — a  childless  woman!  O  (]od,  O 
God!  I'm  going  crazy!  Fiend  of  Heaven,  give  me  back 
my  children,  or  strike  me  mad — and  quickly,  quickly !  " 

And  now  it  took  all  Maguire's  giant  strength  to  com- 
bat the  demon  in  possession  of  his  wife.  Desperately 
she  grappled  with  him.  striving  to  throw  herself  from 
the  carriage,  and  silently  he  overcame  her,  his  fear  of 
doing  injury  almost  giving  her  the  victory.  At  last  her 
collapse  was  as  sudden  as  her  frenzy.  She  sank  ex- 
hausted I)  the  floor  of  the  carriage,  moaning,  sobbing, 
gasping  spasmodically,  as  near  to  the  door  of  death  as 
she  would  ever  be  until  it  opened  to  receive  her. 

The  carriage  stopped  at  last,  and  Maguire,  carrying 
the  senseless  form  of  his  wife  into  Grady's  parlour,  laid 
her  on  a  couch.  The  owner  of  the  flat  was  not  in,  but 
the  servants  had  instructions  and  offered  help,  which  was 
declined  by  Maguire.  who  asked  to  be  left  alone  with 
his  wife.  He  paced  up  and  down  the  room,  his  face 
white,  his  lips  set,  resolutely  keeping  the  mastery  of  him- 
self, the  silence  disturbed  by  the  accustomel  street  noises 
below  and  the  subdued  pitiful  wailing  of  his  wife.  He 
could  noi  trust  his  voice  to  oflFer  such  poor  consolation  as 
might  be  at  his  command,  s  ;  walked  and  turned,  ami 
walked  and  turned.  He  felt  dumbly  the  strangem - 
that  Xcw  York  should  be  going  on  much  as  usual,  an.l 
the  sound  of  a  merry  laugh  beneath  startled  him  as  if  it 
had  been  a  scream. 

At  last  Grady  came  in,  opening  the  door  softly  anl 
without  knocking. 

"  My  poor  boy,"  he  said  in  a  half  whisper,  "  this  i- 
awful.  I  suppose  there  is  no  chance  that  the  childnii 
were  away  anywhere?"' 

"  Xo.     Is  there  any  hope  of  them  having  escaped?  " 

"  Not  if  they  were  in  their  rooms.  No,  don't  think 
that,"  he  said  rapidly,  rightly  interpreting  his  friem's 
agonised  look.  "  A  fire  escape  would  have  been  u-' - 
less.     The  whole  place  was  ablaze  lefore  one  could  turn 


II 


']...r 


"  Fire  that  severs  day  from  niglit  "     443 

round,  they  tell  me.  It  was  like  an  explosion  in  its  sud- 
denness;  some  say  there  was  an  explosion.  Xoth- 
in^r  could  have  been  done.  lucrvthinjr  was  like  tinder 
with  the  winter  heating.  It's  small  comfort,  but  the 
worst  was  over  in  the  twinklinij:  of  an  eye." 

"Did  many  get  out?' 

"  Xo.  I  coulil  hear  no  word  of  von,  and  I  was  afraid 
you— I  saw  no  one  that  lived  in  th'e  house,  though  1  in- 
quired through  all  the  crowd.  At  last  the  policeman  on 
the  beat  told  me  that  you  and  Mrs.  Maguire  had  gone 
out  early  in  the  evening,  so  I  had  him  watch  for  vou." 

The  prone  figure  on  the  couch  took  no  notice,  evidentlv 
knowing  nothing  of  what  was  going  on  about  her. 
Grady  glanced  at  her  uneasily  now  and  then.  He  low- 
ered his  voice  to  a  whisper  again. 

"  How— how  is  she  taking  it  ?  "  he  asked  awkwardlv. 

"  \'ery— hard.  I'm  afraid  for  her.  She  was— 
wrapped  up  in  them,"  and  for  the  first  time  Maguire's 
voice  broke. 

The  other  patted  him  helplessly  on  the  shoulder. 

"  Is  there  anything  I  can  do  for  vou.  Pat?  Anything 
I  can  get?     Shall  1  send  a  doctor  up?" 

"  No.  no;  there's  nothing  here  a  doctor  can  cure." 

"  Well,  I'll  just  leave  you.  then.  I've  a  room  at  the 
Astor  House.  If  you  need  me.  send  down  at  anv  hour. 
My  man  here  will  get  you  evervthing  vou  want.'  every- 
thing you  want." 

"  You're  a  good  fellow.  John.  Some  time  I'll  tell  vou 
— better  than  I  can  now — " 

"That's  all  right,  that's  all  right." 

He  stole  out  of  the  room  as  quietly  as  he  had  enter'  d 
it ;  as  if  he  were  leaving  a  chamber  of  death. 


CHAPTER     IV. 
"god's  will!   what   wilfulness   is  this?" 

There  was  no  recurrence  of  the  frenzy  which  had,  for 
a  time,  made  the  bereaved  woman  a  maniac  on  the  nip^ht 
of  the  fire.  After  a  prolonged  period  of  quiet  exhaustive 
weeping,  Lottie  sank,  a  wan  shadow  of  her  former  self, 
into  a  profound  melancholy  from  which  it  seemed  impos- 
sible to  arouse  her.  Maguire  devoted  himself  to  his 
wife,  always  kind,  soothing,  thoughtful,  and  she  accepted 
his  constant  ministrations  with  indifferent  lassitude.  If 
his  unremitting  care  had  no  effect  upon  her  in  one  way 
or  another,  it  at  least  performed  the  retroactive  purpose 
of  assuaging  his  own  deep  g^ief,  an  office  which  unselfish 
usefulness  to  others  frequently  fulfils. 

"  It's  the  woman  that  suffers,"  he  would  say,  although 
his  own  mirthless  uncertain  smile  gave  token  that  the 
woman  did  not  suffer  alone. 

He  took  her  West,  hoping  that  the  scenes  of  her  girl- 
hood would  work  an  improvement  upon  her  spirits,  and 
she  went  with  him,  showing  neither  reluctance  nor  eager- 
ness. Ihe  change,  however,  had  the  opposite  eflfect  to 
what  liad  been  anticipated.  Here  she  had  returned  with 
her  fv::.L  baby,  then  with  her  second.  Here  the  children 
had  played  with  their  delighted  grandparents,  frolicking 
about  the  place  with  delight  in  its  freedom  and  its  scope ; 
rejoicing  in  the  unaccustomed  liberty  of  the  farm,  the 
woods,  the  puddling  stream,  and  here —  '"  ()  God,"  she 
cried,  as  she  wandered  aimlessly  about,  following  tlu'ir 
traceless  footsteps,  "  here  they  would  have  been  safe !  " 

Every  bush  and  gate  and  path  brought  them  more 
vividly  to  her  distracted  mind,  and  it  seemed  imjXDSsiblc 
that  they  were  actually  obliterated  from  the  green  earth, 
leaving  not  a  shadow  behind  them ;  not  even  a  grave  on 
its  flowery  bosom  to  weep  over.  Like  an  unrjU'et  ghdst 
she  haunted  the'r  former  retreats,  and  once  coming  upon 

444 


■r 


"God's  will!  what  willulness  is  this?"    445 

a  (Icst-rted  open  slicd  she  was  star.lul  i>v  iIk"  swayinj;  of 
a  ropc-swiiij^r  their  {jraiulfallKT  h:i'l  put  up  f..r  iliem,  and 
undisturbed,  in  a  corner,  the  little  as^urtnunt  of  hroken 
crockery  that  had  been  the  ^'irl's  playhouse.  The  stricken 
woman  sank  to  the  ground,  laid  her  hciI  ajjainst  the  wall 
and  wept  despairingly. 

The  farm  was  a  place  of  unrest  to  Maguire.  He 
strode  over  its  broad  wintry  fields  hare  of  snow  not 
knowin-r  what  to  do  with  himself;  his  feet  vearnini  for 
the  pavement ;  uncaring^  for  the  sward.  Letters  and'  tele- 
grams urged  him  to  return  ;  things  were  going  hadlv  in 
his  absence;  faction  was  reviving;  bitterness  in  debate 
and  revolt  in  counsel.  The  hand  of  the  master  was 
needed,  and  that  hand  clenched  and  unclenched  as  he 
read,  itchmg  to  be  once  more  at  the  rudder-bar  P.radley 
had  returned,  and  the  old  gang,  now  sulxjrdinated.  was 
gathermg  round  hm.  Maguire  laughed  sardonically  as 
he  perused  his  correspondence;  when  the  gods  got  back 
the  half-gods  would  go,  and  that  speedilv.  lie  might 
lose  New  York,  but  he  could  not  risk  losing  his  wife,  nor 
would  he  desert  her  in  her  affliction. 

Once,  on  the  arrival  of  his  letters  from  the  Kast.  he 
sprang  upon  a  horse  and  rode  hot-foot  to  Ypsilanti ;  sent 
forward  a  telegraphic  message  to  New  York,  short, 
sharp,  authoritative.     It  ran  : 

"Bounce  Donovan  and  Schwab,  and  put  Loj^an  and 
O'Kccfe  in  their  places. 

"  Patuk  K  M.V.L'IKi:." 
It  was  literally  and  figuratively  a  stroke  of  lightning,  and 
it  shattered  two  officials  n  iu'gh  places,  who.  puffed  with 
newly  acquired  pride,  had  co:ne  to  fancv  that  each  was 
"  a  bigger  man  than  old  Maguire."  The  two  supptjsed 
the  heavens  would  fall  if  they  were  meddled  with,  but 
the  hea\-ens  sto.xl,  and  their  adherents  fell— awav  from 
them.  They  were  now  but  two  private  citizens  in  a 
metropolis  numbering  more  than  a  million  such,  with 
nothing  to  give  away,  and  all  through  fourteen  word^. 
deadhead  at  that,  for  the  telegraph  company  did  not  re- 
quire Patrck  to  pay  for  Ins  messages ;  a  truly  amazing 
result,  understandable  as  the  ukase  of  a  despotic  king, 


Ill 


\ 


..Lixaj. .  i 


446 


The  Victors 


but  a  miracle  in  a  democracy,  when  performed  by  a  man 
holdinj^  no  office,  responsible  to  none  for  his  actions. 
Pcaci.  and  dumb  terror  reigned  in  Tammany,  for  Ma- 
guire  had  struck  high  and  struck  hard. 

"  That  was  magnificent,"  wrote  the  Mayor.  "  I  would 
never  have  had  the  courage  to  do  it.  I  should  have 
feared  disobedience  in  the  first  place,  and  a  split  in  the 
second.  I'.ut  there  was  no  hesitation  in  action,  although 
you  were  hundreds  of  miles  away,  and  now  those  two 
havent  a  corpoi  i!'s  guard  following  ihem.  There  is  no 
split,  nor  sign  of  it.  Come  back  as  sot  n  as  you  can. 
All  you  need  io  do  is  to  walk  up  Broadway  and  the  op- 
position will  climb  a  tree." 

P.ut  Maguire  stayed  on,  although  he  chafed  under  in- 
action anc|  loathed  his  surroundings.  His  wife  gave  no 
sign  that  she  wished  to  ([uit  her  environment,  and  until 
she  did  he  would  not  budge.  lie  suspected  that  the 
visit  was  doing  her  little  good,  but  he  was  at  a  loss  to 
propose  a  substitute  for  it.  He  distrusted  the  return 
to  New  York  and  its  effect  .upon  her.  She  made  no 
complaint  and  no  suggestion,  and  seemed  to  care  but  lit- 
tle for  his  company,  so  he  roamed  the  fields  and  the 
woods,  avoiding  his  kind,  communing  with  himself 
alone. 

The  only  occasions  during  which  a  spark  of  spirit 
came  to  Lottie's  eyes  were  when  some  visiting  neighbour 
was  announced,  who  came  solemnly  to  oflfer  condolence ; 
friends  and  acquaintances  of  her  maiden  days  paying 
the  visits  that  were  expected  by  all  properly  brought  uj) 
persons  in  the  circumstances.  These  she  met  at  the  ur- 
gent solicitation  of  her  mother,  and  received  in  silence, 
with  downcast  eyes,  the  conventional  consolation  they  had 
to  oflfer.  The  clergyman  in  whose  congregation  she  had 
sat  all  her  girlhood  days  was  away  from  home  when  slir 
came  to  the  farm,  and  his  pastoral  call  upon  his  return 
was  of  necessity  belated. 

"  I  shall  not  go  in  and  see  him,"  she  protested  to  her 
persuading  mother.  "  I  am  heartsick  of  all  this  talk. 
talk,  talk.    What  does  he  understand?  ' 

"  He  is  a  good  man.  Lottie,  dear.  He  can  do  you  no 
harm,  if  he  docs  you  little  benefit." 


"God's  will!  what  wilfulness  is  this?"  447 

"Oh,  it's  easy  to  Uv  jjood  when  yoti  have  iiotliitij,'  to 
Lear." 

*•  Come  in  with  me.  darhnj,';  it  will  h.-  only  for  a  mo- 
ment, and  I  wont  ask  you  to  see  anv  one  else,  if  you 
don't  want  to." 

So  at  last  the  hlack-parbed  woman  entered  the  par- 
lour where  her  reverend  friend  was  waitinj.,'.  He  took 
her  limp  unresisting  hand  and  expressed  tlie  ^n-M  >,0T- 
row  he  had  felt  when  he  read  of  her  Ik  reaveiiuiit. 

"  r.ut  tliese  burdens,  laid  ui'on  our  >ho'.d<!ers  hy  an 
ever  merciful  Ciod,  though  grievous  to  hear  at  the 
time — " 

She  dre\\   I'cr  hand  away  from  his. 

" — are  for  our  ultimate  refjeneratioii,  and  will  l)e 
looked  hack  upon  even  by  ourselves  as  a  dispensation  to 
be  regar<led  as  a  necessary  chasteninj;^ ;  as  an  all-bounti- 
ful mercy  which — " 

"  Xever.  never,  never."  she  cried. 

"  My  child,  I  am  old,  and  have  in  my  calling  seen 
much  of  sorrow  and — " 

"  Then,  sir,  it  has  tau.c^ht  you  little." 

"  It  has  tauj^ht  me  to  receive  with  bowed  head,  in  a 
contrite  spirit,  the  ordinances  of  a  just,  unchanging 
God — " 

"  A  ju.st  God?  Do  you  wish  me  to  believe  that  He  is 
the  murderer  of  my  innocent  children?  Do  you  mean 
that  He — with  unrestricted  all-pervading  power,  pfv.ver 
w'thout  limit — that  He,  to  chancre  my  hard  heart,  il  it 
needed  changing,  must  wreak  His  vindictive  vengeance 
on  the  blameless,  must  crush  my  beating  heart  under  His 
cruel  heel?    Then  such  a  demon  God  I  curse  and  defy." 

"  My  dear  Mrs.  Maguire,  you  know  mt  what  you 
say,"'  gasped  the  horror-stricken  minister. 

"()  Lottie,  Lottie!"  cried  her  amazed,  terrified 
mother. 

"  I'll  have  nothing  of  your  God — a  man-made  God. 
with  all  man's  woi -t  vices,  eternally  omnipotent.  Xot  a 
criminal  that  walks  the  streets  but  is  better — nobler  than 
He,  as  you  describe  him.  Let  Him  gi\e  me  back  my 
darlings  and   I   will  worship  Him;  yes.  crawl  to  Ilim, 


■^TTT 


448 


The  Victors 


J*. 


If 


ii 
I 


i  1 


which  is  what  Ilis  tyrant  spirit  asks.  I,ct  Him  bv^  my 
forj^ivcticss  for  tlu-  agony  He  has  made  ine  suffer — and 
I  will  forpive  Him — if  i  can.  lUtt  now — now — to  ask 
me  to  how  my  head  to  Him — to  worship  Him — He  wlio 
has  torn  my  bah-'es  from  me — whose  warm,  naked  Httle 
bodies  I  have  pressed  luvmg  to  my  breast — to  leave  mc 
— to  leave  mc  without  a  handful  of  ashes  in  all  that 
ghastly  heap,  that  I  can  call  theirs — oh — oh — " 

She  ran  shrieking  from  the  room,  her  auditors  silent 
and  dumfoundcd.  Poor  Mrs.  I'.yfield,  hesitating  be- 
tween fear  that  her  daughter  would  harm  herself,  an<l 
fear  that  the  otTended,  outraged  minister  would  spread 
such  awful  he: CSV  about  the  world,  stood  irresolute. 

"  She  is  distrauglit."  said  the  clergyman  in  a  trembling 
whisper.  "  Look  at  her.  It  will  pass  in  time — pass  in 
time — " 

"  You  will  say  nothing — '' 

"  ( )li,  not  a  word  ;  be  sure  of  that,"  but  the  good  man 
told  his  wife,  and  she,  in  confidence,  of  course,  spoke  to 
cherished  frienils ;  thus  the  neighborhood  came  to  know 
that  life  in  a  city  is  demoralising. 

Maguire  coming  down  the  long  lane  that  led  from  the 
barns  to  the  forest,  saw  his  wife  running  toward  him, 
her  dishevelled  hair  Hying  behind  her  in  the  wind.  Curi- 
ously enough  his  first  thought  was — something  has  hap- 
pened to  the  children — then  he  remembered,  and  the  dull 
weight  sank  again  upon  his  heart.  With  a  sigh  he  hur- 
ried forward  to  meet  her. 

"  Oh,  Patsey!  Patsey !  '  she  cried,  flinging  herself  into 
his  arms,  resting  her  throbbing  head  upon  his  shoulder, 
using  again  the  old  niinvj ;  "  Oh,  Patsey,  Patsey,  take  nie 
away  from  this  place.     I  can  stand  it  no  longer.'" 

"  Anywhere  you  like,  my  dear,"  he  said,  caressing  and 
smoothing  her  tani,-led  hair. 

"  At  once.  Patsey ;  this  very  moment." 

"  Could  you  go  back  to  New  York,  now?'* 

"  Oh.  \ew  York,  yes ;  where  else?  My  heart  is  in  that 
ash  heap  in  New  York." 

"Yes,  darling;  it's  true  what  you  say;  an'  mine's 
there  with  it."' 

So  they  returned  to  New  York. 


1 


CHAPTER    V 

"  WHAT  TKLLST  TIlOl     M  K  OF   KOillUNU?" 

It  is  more  than  likely  that  nothnijj  new  has  been 
thoujjht.  spoken,  written  or  done  these  live  hundred 
years  pasi.  The  Lord  only  knows  how  many  centuries 
have  elapsed  since  tlie  last  original  idea  was  put  forth; 
the  last  original  action  accomplished.  The  human  brain 
is  at  once  so  industrious  and  so  limited  in  scope  that  it 
must  have  exhausted,  very  early  in  the  life  oi  the  race, 
all  the  initiative  material  with  which  it  was  permitted  to 
deal.  Since  then  wc  have  been  rethinking  dead  men's 
thoughts;  reiterating  their  weirds;  inventing  their  mar- 
vels anew  ;  travelling  around  a  well-trodden  circle,  but 
•  j  ad. ling  a  touch  of  humour  to  the  treadtnill  task  by  be- 

lieving we  are  doing  it  all  for  the  first  time;  that  the 
others  whose  footprints  wc  are  obliterating  were  a  piti- 
full  lot  in  comparison  with  ourselves. 

Maguire,  now  returned,  and  in  his  clement  once  more, 
imagined  that  his  plan  for  the  partial  looting  of  a 
great  city  was  new.  His  theory  was  that  the  busi- 
ness man  would  pay  for  being  left  alone,  just  as 
a  Russian,  racing  fur  life  across  tlie  snow,  will  throw  to 
the  wolves  whatever  he  may  have  with  him.  piece  by 
piece,  as  the  jirice  of  his  own  safety.  Xowhere  else  on 
earth  was  the  race  for  wealth  so  keen,  so  universal,  as  in 
Xew  York  ;  nowhere,  therefore,  could  the  wolves  expect 
such  pickings  as  would  be  thrown  to  thein,  did  they  btit 
snarl  at  the  iron-shod  runners  of  the  sledge.  Hut  the 
barons  of  the  Rhine  had  done  all  this  centuries  before ; 
the  merchants  paid  them  good  money  to  be  left  alone. 
In  certain  Italian  provinces  the  boss  of  the  district  sat 
at  the  receipt  of  customs  and  collected  unauthorized 
taxes  from  people  who  wished  to  live  a  quiet  life;  taxes 
29  449 


^JT---  .      -ra-  : 


J  «■  .  •ml' I  JSUEiil.  . 


■.^PpSp9S|fc.o 


MICROCOPY   RESOIUTION   TEST   CHART 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


■  a* 

14.0 


|Z5 
2.2 

1.8 


A    APPLIED  IIVHGE 


1653  East   Main  Street 

Rochester.   Ne«  York        U609       USA 

(716)    482  -  0300  -  Phone 

(716)   288-  5989  -  Fok 


450 


The  Victors 


much  more  promptly  paid  than  those  expected  by  the 
regular  government.  Even  in  his  benefactions  to  the 
poor,  Maguire  was  not  original,  for  Robin  Hood  light- 
ened the  purses  of  the  well-to-do,  and  distributed  silver 
among  the  needy,  taking  care  that  his  own  wallet  became 
fat  in  the  process. 

Although  Maguire,  if  hard  pressed,  would  defend  the 
principles  of  William  M.  Tweed,  he  had  nothing  but 
scorn  for  the  clumsy  methods  of  his  predecessor.  Tweed 
had  stolen  millions ;  Tweed  had  left  behind  him  falsified 
records,  cheques  that  could  be  trac.d.  robberies  with  a 
trail  in  the  rear.  He  was  unfit  to  be  a  Tammany  man,  for 
the  red  Indian  chief  who  gave  name  to  the  organisation 
had  certainly  slunk  through  the  dense  forest  noiselessly, 
leaving  no  footprint,  no  broken  twig,  to  mark  his  course. 

It  would  be  libellous  to  say  that  Maguire  was  a  thief. 
Like  some  of  our  beneficent  charities,  he  was  supported 
by  voluntarv  contributions.  You  did  not  need  to  pay 
a  penny  to  any  of  his  numerous  satellites  unless  you 
wished  to  do  so.    Then  why  pay? 

We  will  take  the  case  of  a  saloonkeeper  on  the  cor- 
ner. The  law  requires  him  to  close  his  premises  at  cer- 
tain hours,  and  to  keep  them  closed  on  Sundays  and  at 
other  stated  times  during  the  year.  The  human  throat 
has  been  constructed  without  regard  to  the  calendar, 
and  one  of  its  peculiarities  happens  to  be  that  it  is  as 
Hkely  to  become  as  thirsty  on  Sunday  afternoon  as  it 
was  the  previous  Wednesday.  Hence  a  demand  for  al- 
leviation. Consequently  Sunday  trade  is  brisk  and  profit- 
able, because  there  are  more  dry  throats  about  the  streets 
that  dav  than  on  any  other.  The  saloonkeeper  refuses  to 
pay.  Verv  good.  He  shall  respect  the  law,  which  is  also 
very  good.  A  policeman — an  incorruptible  officer,  who 
scorns  the  surreptitious  glass  of  beer— parades  in  front 
of  the  saloon.  He  does  not  need  to  say  anything.  The 
thirsty  throats  pass  him  by  and  go  to  the  next  place. 
This  makes  all  the  difference  between  profit  and  loss  to 
the  saloonkeeper,  and  there  is  a  touch  of  opera  boufte 
about  the  business.  Imagine  him  attempting  to  com- 
plain that  he  is  compelled  to  abide  by  the  law  I    What  are 


"What  tell'st  thou  me  of  robbing?"   451 

the  police  there  for  but  to  accompHsh  that  very  object? 
The  stricken  beer  merchant  may  proclaim  that  other 
shops  are  allowed  to  remain  open.  Are  they  ?  It  is  easy 
to  make  rash  assertion,  but  difficult  to  supply  lejjal  proof. 
The  thirsty  throats  cannot  be  expected  to  turn  state's 
evidence  upon  the  man  who  kept  an  oasis  in  the  desert, 
and  there  can  be  no  other  witnesses.  But  even  if  a  man 
could  summon  up  proof  strong  as  Holy  Writ,  it  would 
have  little  effect  upon  a  judge  owned  by  the  organisa- 
tion which  exacted  tribute.  It  needs  no  ghost  from  the 
grave  to  show  us  that  there  are  exactly  one  of  two  things 
to  do — shut  up  shop  or  pay  the  sum  expected. 

Still,  after  all,  law-breakers  are  a  small  minority  in 
any  community.  The  bulk  of  the  people  desire  to  make 
their  living  as  honestly  as  may  be.  What,  then,  of 
those  reputable  dealers  who  respect  the  law  and  hope 
rigidly  to  abide  by  it?  They  also  have  two  courses  be- 
fore them.  They  may  set  aside  a  fighting  fund,  of  ne- 
cessity much  larger  than  any  sum  exacted  from  them  by 
the  party  in  power,  engage  an  expensive  lawyer  and  de- 
fend themselves  from  court  to  court,  ultimately  vic- 
torious, perhaps.  Or  they  may  pay  blackmail  and  work 
in  peace. 

Some  communities  have  a  genius  for  law-making, 
others  a  sensitiveness  regarding  the  keeping  of  'aws 
they  already  possess,  but  the  two  qualities  rarely  run 
neck  and  neck.  It  is  soothing  to  the  conscience,  conducive 
to  a  feeling  of  self-righteousness,  to  place  a  good  law 
on  the  statute  book.  It  is  like  a  man  paying  a  debt  by 
giving  his  promissory  note  for  it,  and  having  the  burden 
thus  off  his  mind.  "  There,"'  he  says  virtuously,  "  that's 
settled."  The  statute  books  bristle  with  excellent,  wholly 
unnecessary  enactments,  which  would  be  as  annoying  as 
wasps  if  they  possessed  the  activity  of  those  insects ;  but, 
thank  goodness,  they  slumber  where  the  legislature 
placed  them  and  pester  not  a  patient  public.  However, 
let  some  well-meaning,  impracticable,  meddlesome  per- 
son stir  up  this  hive  of  wasps  with  a  stick — this  quiescent 
multitude,  each  with  a  sting  of  penalty  in  its  tan — and 
the  public  will  roar  with  anger.     Logically,  the  public 


452 


The  Victors 


should  smother  the  wasps,  but  it  does  no  such  th'njj;  it 
promptly  slaughters  the  man  with  the  stick.  Thus  re- 
lorm  administrations  invariably  wreck  themselves.  They 
probe  about  with  a  poker.  They  say  to  themselves, 
"  These  laws  were  made  to  be  kept,"  and  they  proceed  to 
see  that  this  is  bone.  Then  they  rise  dazed  the  morning 
after  election  and  /onder  who  hit  them  on  the  head 
with  a  ballot  box. 

But  a  judicious  keeper  of  the  hive  may  do  much  effec- 
tive work  with  it.  He  takes  a  dormant  wasp  and  slips 
it  under  the  collar  of  a  busy  man  absorbed  over  his  desk. 
There  is  a  yell  cf  pain,  an  instant  ceasing  of  work — a 
strict  attendance  upon  the  wasp. 

"Why  did  you  do  that?"  wails  the  victim  of  the 
sting. 

An  outstretched  upturned  palm  is  the  answer. 

"  Then  you  won't  do  it  again  if  I  pay?  " 

"  Certainly  not,'"  is  the  reply.  "  What  are  we  here 
for?" 

Now  this  victim  alone  cannot  slaughter  the  keeper  of 
the  hive ;  it  requires  the  whole  community  to  do  that. 
But  the  whole  community  has  not  been  stung;  only  one 
stubborn  individual  here  and  there.  Even  the  individ- 
uals do  not  know  one  another  and  cannot  act  together, 
for  each  secretes  the  sting  he  has  received,  does  not  talk 
about  it,  and  is  mainly  anxious  that  he  shall  not  be  called 
upon  to  endure  another.  So  the  keeper  of  the  dormant 
wasps  has  things  pretty  much  his  own  way  as  long  as  he 
does  not  let  loose  the  whole  hive. 

Even  if  the  wasps  prove  stingless,  they  are,  neverthe- 
less, annoying  under  a  shirt.  A  merchant  may  find  that 
his  delivery  vans  are  obstructing  the  street ;  that  his  em- 
ployees have  left  a  bale  of  goods  too  long  on  the  public 
sidewalk ;  that  his  premises  are  dangerous  and  need  to 
be  remodelled  for  the  general  safety.  All  these  charges 
may  prove  baseless,  but  the  annoyance  and  expense  of 
refuting  them  arc  as  palpable  as  the  indictments  are  un- 
real. All  the  fundamental  machinery  of  the  law  is  in  the 
hands  of  his  persecutors :  the  police  are  theirs ;  the  sub- 
ordinate judges  belong  to  them.    What,  then,  is  a  sensi- 


"What  tell'st  thou  me  of  robbing?"     45^ 

ble,  practical  business  man  to  do?  Vote  anti-Tam- 
many? Of  course  he  votes  anti-Tammany— that  is,  if 
election  day  happens  to  be  fine ;  November  weather  has  a 
habit  of  being  the  reverse,  and  a  man  is  not  expected  to 
endanger  his  health  hanging  about  a  polling  booth  in  a 
wind-swept  winter  street.  Then  again,  he  may  not  have 
the  time  to  vote,  for  it  must  be  remembered  that  the  holi- 
day trade  is  then  at  its  briskest,  and  a  man  cannot  well 
leave  it  to  the  hands  of  others.  Finally,  what  is  the  use 
of  one  vote,  anyway?  A  contest  is  rarely  lost  or  won 
by  a  single  vote,  so  let  us  spend  election  day  making 
some  more  money ! 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  the  American  is  wise  in 
business  and  a  fool  in  politics.  He  is  successful  in 
whichever  branch  he  takes  up,  but  he  does  not  divide  his 
energies  by  attempting  both  at  once.  McAllister  was 
triurnphant  in  business;  Maguire  was  a  conqueror  in 
politics.  The  business  man  seems  a  failure  in  politics 
simply  because  he  hasn't  the  time  to  devote  himself  to  it. 
He  cares  little  about  power  for  its  own  sake;  merely  as 
a  means  to  an  end,  usually  expressible  in  dollars.  But 
when  a  business  man  thinks  ''t  worth  while  to  lav  doun 
his  work  and  take  up  the  c?  .s  )f  government,  lie  makes 
the  regular  politician  wish  lie  had  selected  another  occu- 
pation, for  reg.ilar  politicians  are  necessarily  pissessed 
of  limited  brain  power.  No  capable  man  can  afiford  to 
bother  with  the  uncertainties  of  public  favour :  the  prizes 
of  commercial  or  professional  life  are  too  huge  for  ex- 
istence to  be  fri.tered  away  catering  for  the  popular 
vote.  The  business  man  may  not  be  able  to  elect  him- 
self president,  but  there  is  at  least  one  instance  on  record 
where  he  cs*^  his  eye  over  eighty  millions  of  i)cople,  se- 
lected a  po'  an  from  among  them,  and  made  that  poli- 
tician chief  of  the  greatest  nation  on  earth. 

Here,  then,  at  the  feet  of  the  victor,  Maguire,  lay  the 
conquered  country,  rich  as  a  rajah's  province  of  Gol- 
conda,  powerless  as  Hungary  under  Marshal  Haynau. 
Heretofore  the  vicious  and  the  lawbreaker  had  always 
contributed  fitfully  to  the  coffers  of  the  party  in  office ; 
now  Maguire  flung  wide  his  net  over  just  and  unjust 


The  Victors 

alike.  He  brought  a  sort  of  r  ,,h  equity  to  hear  on  the 
business,  fittine:  the  burden  to  i.ie  back  compelled  to  sus- 
tain it,  allotting  exaction  with  some  sense  of  proportion 
to  the  extent  of  traffic  that  was  to  produce  it.  Not  even 
the  foreigner  escaped,  and  Europe  winced  when  Maguire 
squeezed.  (Jreat  steamship  companies,  with  stock 
owned  in  part  by  emperors  and  kings,  paid  tribute  to  the 
uncrowned  monarch,  surely  a  reversal  of  former  epi- 
sodes, and  thui.  in  a  measure,  not  foreseen  by  the  po(t, 
did  the  New  World  right  the  wrongs  of  the  Old.  Ma- 
guire liked  to  see  those  about  him  happy,  and  they  were. 
(]old  passing  from  hand  to  hand  loses  by  attrition,  thus 
bankers  weigh  rather  than  count.  No  man  living  could 
say  with  truth  that  he  had  bribed  Maguire,  yet  this  auto- 
crat, holding  no  omce.  drawing  no  visible  salary,  grew 
lich  in  money,  in  houses,  in  lands.  Improvements  hap- 
pened to  be  inaugurated  where  his  town  lots  lay,  values 
increased  like  magic,  gold  bred  gold.  The  island  of 
Monte  Cristo  was  a  mere  penny  bank  in  the  Mediter- 
ranean compared  with  the  island  of  Plutus  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Hudson. 


CHAPTER    VI 

"turns    IXSL'RRIiCTION    TO    KICLICION  " 

If  Maj?uire  prospered  in  the  work  of  his  Hfc.  his  do- 
mestic affairs   were  far   from  beinsj^  lo  his  satisfaction. 
His  wife  seemed  unable  or  uncaring-  to  throw  off  tlic 
deep   melancholy   that   oj^pressod   her.      When   they    re- 
turned  together    from    their   disappointing   visit   to   the 
Western  farm,  he  hoped  that  house-hunting  would  offer 
a  distraction  peculiarly  acceptable  to  a  woman,  but  she 
showed    little    interest    in   the    search;    expressing    no 
preference  for  one  locality  over  another.     Maguire  had 
taken  her  to  the  palatial  Windsor  Hotel,  where  he  had 
secured  a  suite  of  rooms  on  the  second  floor,  and  from 
that  point  as  a  centre  he  spent  what  time  he  could  si)are 
from  his  business  in  looking  for  a  more  permanent  abid- 
ing place.    Lottie,  however,  appeared  as  satisfied  to  stay 
where  she  was  as  to  go  elsewhere.     So  the  Windsor  be- 
ing convenient  for  IMaguire,  the  quest  for  a  house  was 
abandoned  when  he  saw  his  wife  remained  indifferent 
about  the  matter.    In  fact  he  became  aware  that  the  pur- 
suit brought  back  vividly  to  her  clouded  mind  the  dis- 
aster which  was  the  cause  of  their  seeking-,  and  he  quietly 
relinquished  the  task  until  time  should  have  bhinted  the 
poignancy  of  bereavement.     He  imagined  also  that  she 
might  perhaps  be  wooed  into  forgetfulncss  the  speedier 
among  the  bustling  scenes  of  a  great  caravansary  than 
in  the  comparati:  .  seclusion  of  a  private  dwelling.     But 
as  time  went  on  no  improvement  manifested  itself;  rather 
the    opposite,    for    Lottie   became  more    pale    and    wat,, 
more  evidently  weary  of  the  world,  until  Patrick,  with  a 
sickening  sinking  of  the  heart,  began  to  fear  he  would 
lose  wife  as  well  as  chi'dren.     lie  told  her.  with  as- 
sumed glee,  how  rich  he  was  becoming — real  estate  spec- 

455 


11 


456 


The  Victors 


ulations.  tremendous  advances  in  railroad  property— hut 
her  wliole  imcrest  in  the  accumulation  of  wealtli  ha<l 
heen  that  her  children  should  not  need  to  work  sn  hard 
as  he  had  done,  and  now.  when  they  were  ^'onc,  of  what 
use  was  this  piling  up  of  bonds  and  stocks  .•' 

Maguirc  had  much  faith  in  Christianity;  he  thought 
religion  a  pood  tl.  iiR— for  a  woman— and  he  ur^'cd  her 
to  come  to  church  with  him.  lie  was  not  a  professt-d  ad- 
herent of  anv  sect,  bein^  extremely  liberal  m  hjs  re- 
ligious opini;)ns.  He  was  will  up:  to  join  any  cons:rep- 
tion  in  the  citv  on  the  chanc  oi"  one  sermon  or  another 
sui)plving  the"  consolation  hi  wife  so  greatly  needed, 
but  she  steadfastly  refused  to  accompany  hmi.  Deep 
down  in  his  heart,  unconfesscd,  perhaps  unknown  even 
to  himself,  was  a  lingering  atTcction  for  th-  old  faith  in 
which  he  had  been  brought  up  as  a  boy.  Xo  patu  t, 
mild-evcd  nun  ever  sought  in  vain  a  contribution  from 
Ma"-uire ;  no  priest  with  some  needed  mission  on  his 
mind  but  left  the  Boss  with  the  mission  funds  substan- 
tially increased. 

One  (lav,  to  Lottie's  surprise,  a  priest  called  upon  her, 
a  venerable,  scholarly  man,  a  courtier  in  manner,  a  gen- 
tleman in  speech  and  bearing.  Now  such  is  the  incon- 
sistency of  human  nature  that,  although  Lottie  had  some- 
what rudely  thrown  awav  the  religious  tenets  of  her 
youth  as  a  broken  staff  which  had  failed  her  in  time  of 
need  she  nevertheless  retained  deep  down  in  her  mind 
the  prejudices  which  that  belief,  as  it  was  taught  to  her, 
had  inculcated,  and  among  these  prejudices  was  a  hor- 
ror of  what  she  termed  Romish  error.  She  greeted  the 
reverend  father  coldlv.  and  he  was  quick  to  sec  that  he 
made  no  headwav  with  her.  He  had  more  tact  than 
the  Western  clergyman,  however,  and  diplomatically  tor- 
bore  to  labour  a  point  when  he  perceived  that  his  lis- 
tener showed  signs  of  impatience.  He  took  his  leave 
with  a  suavity  of  farewell  which  gave  no  hint  of  a 
knowledge  that   his   embassy   had   failed,    for   the  time 

being  at  least.  n  4.  •  i  :>  ' 

"  Was  it  you  sent  that  priest  here  to-day.  Patrick . 

she  asked  of  her  husband  later. 


*'  Turns  insurrection  to  relij^ion  "       457 

"  ( )li.  (lid  tilt-  rcvcrt-nd  ^cntk-iiiaii  drop  in?  I'm  j^dad 
of  that.  He's  ail  old  friend  of  mine,  a  f^ood  man  who 
can  tell  a  ^ooil  story  with  the  best  of  them.  1  h.ope  you 
Iked   him." 

"  Patrick,  J  believe  you  are  a  Catholic  at  heart." 

"  Who?  Me?  Xot  a  bit  of  it.  I  keep  an  o]  en  mnd 
on  the  subject,  like  a  muj.j\vunip  voter  helwieu  e!ectii>ns. 
.\s  far  as  relij^ncm  is  concerned.  I  resemble  that  Western 
man  who  said  he  was  a  Methodist,  but  hadn't  been  work- 
ing; at  it  lately.  That's  lunv  it  is  with  me.  Truth  to 
tell,  if  I  wanted  to  meet  my  forefathers  ir.  the  next 
world,  and  I'm  not  sure  I  do.  for  i^'s  mij^htv  little  they 
left  me  in  this  one,  it's  in  the  Roman  fold  I'd  ha\e  to  .i,'o, 
for  that's  where  they  all  were,  right  enough.  \o,  Lot- 
tie. I'm  no  Catholic;  maybe  I'd  be  a  better  man  if  I  was." 

"Oh,  you're  a  good  man,  Patsey,  but  I  cannot  under- 
stand how  sens'ble  people  bring  themselves  to  believe  in 
purgatory." 

"  Is  it  purgatory?  Well  now,  Lottie,  there's  a  word  or 
two  to  be  said  for  that  same  device.  You  see  the  Prot- 
estant churches  are  all  one  thing  or  the  other.  It's 
either  you're  a  saint  in  heaven,  or  t'  hell  wid  ye.  X(nv 
there's  a  powerful  waste  of  good  material  there,  to  my 
v.ay  of  thinking.  Take  an  ordinary  every-day  sort  of 
man  like  myself,  for  instance.  I  know  I'm  plenty  good 
enough  for  New  York,  but  I'm  not  that  conceited  as  to 
think  I'm  just  fit  for  heaven  at  a  moment's  notice.  r)n 
the  other  liand,  I  don't  know  that  I'm  bad  enough  to 
take  any  real  enjoyment  out  of  the  bottomless  j  it.  He- 
sides,  it  will  be  full  of  mugwumps  anyhow,  and  that's  no 
kind  of  society  for  the  like  of  me.  Now  a  P.aptist 
preacher  would  have  no  hesitation ;  he'd  burn  me  u{  for 
ever  and  ever.  I  don't  th  nk  that  would  be  quite  fair, 
r.ut  the  priest  would  say  to  me.  '  Come  on,  Pat,  and 
we'll  sm^lt  out  of  you  all  these  little  discrepancies  that 
are  very  useful  in  New  York,  but  for  which  there's  no 
call  at  all  at  all  in  Paradise,  and  when  that's  done  you 
can  take  )our  robe  and  trot  upstairs.'  It's  just  like  a 
man  going  into  a  Turkish  bath  .ind  coming  out  a  cleaii 
citizen  with  a  white  sheet  round  him.     There's  a  com- 


1 1 


m 


, 

ill 

i 

tUi 

5 

458 


The  Victors 


mon-sense  rinp  about  the  proponl  that  seems  to  appeal 
to  a  plain  man  like  myself,  hut  that's  not  to  say  I'm  a 
Catholic  at  all.  f  jr  I'm  not— that  is,  as  far  as  the  returns 
are  in  at  present." 

The  discHsion  ended  here,  fnr  Patrick  had  it  all  his 
own  W2  with  no  opposition  irom  his  wife,  who  sat 
jjently  swayinp:  back  and  forth  in  her  rocking  chair,  her 
h;i-ids  foldeci  in  her  lap.  her  saddened  eyes  gazing  into 
t'le  past.  Patrick  sighed  as  he  recognised  the  usual 
hopeless  a.titude,  and  saw  that  she  was  not  even  listen- 
ing to  what  he  said. 

SpJng  passed  and  summer  was  ,'ain  upon  them,  its 
hot  breath  suddenly  transforming  New  York  inm  a  hu'^e 
oven.  People  took  to  sleeping  in  the  parl.s,  on  th?  door- 
steps, ofi  the  housetops,  and  th  se  who  could,  tied  to 
cooler  regions. 

"  What  do  you  say  to  Atlantic  City,  Lottie '  I  can 
give  you  Newport  if  you  like.    Which  shall  it  he  ?  " 

"  It's  all  the  same  to  me,  Patsev." 

'Then  Atlantic  City  it  is.  1  hate  Newport;  it's  a 
snobbish  place,  but  Atlantic  City  is  democracy  let  loose, 
especially  when  a  dozen  excursions  come  whooping  in. 
You'll  see  the  hov  poUoy — which  sounds  like  Irish,  but 
<;rady  tells  me  it's  Greek— bathing  there  'a  thousands, 
and  t'hey  don't  charge  a  cent  for  tramping  along  the  Board 
Walk.  I  think  for  true  enjoyment  there's  nothing  like 
Atlantic  City  unless  it  be  Coney  Island." 

"  It  will  suit  me  if  it  suits  you,  Patsev." 

"  It  suits  me  down  to  the  ground,  or  down  to  the  sand, 
rather.  When  they  talked  of  foolish  men  building 
houses  on  the  sand.' Atlantic  City  had  not  been  thought 
of;  they  tell  me  town  lots  have  gone  up  something  awful 
these  last  few  years.  I  t'^nk  I'll  invest  in  two  or  three 
waggon  loads  of  sand  and,  if  it  doesn't  blow  away.  111 
make  me  fortune.  The  place  is  only  two  hours  from 
New  York  and  I  have  a  pass  on  the  road,  so  I'll  be  con- 
tented, especially  as  there's  a  telephone  and  a  telegraph 
office  in  the  basement  of  the  hotel ;  for  the  price  of  power 
in  politics  is  eternal  vigilance,  as  somebody  else  said 
about  something  else."' 


if 


"  Turns  insurrccuon  to  rclij^ion  "      459 


Lottie  made  no  riply  to  his  flippant  rcmarlo.  but  the 
lids  slowly  dmoped  over  her  eyvs,  and  he  saw  t\V(»  tears 
trickle  from  under  them,  and  kiuw  well  wlir.i  hrouj^hl 
them,  for  heretofore  her  suiumers  had  been  spent  on  the 
home  farm  in  Michij;an.  and  no  v-  this  was  not  to  he 
talked  of.  He  tried  to  whistle  the  latest  street  tune,  hut 
there  wa..  a  catch  in  his  own  throat,  so  he  turned  away 
as  from  a  problem  that  battled  him.  What  ti>  do  witli 
this  apathetic.  uncomplaininjTf,  sinkinj^j  wniuan,  so  <!itYer- 
ent  from  the  jnyous  girl  he  married,  and  yet  more  dear 
to  him  than  even  she  had  been,  he  did  net  kmnv. 

At  an  immense  hotel,  end  on  to  the  sea,  the  nthcr  ex- 
tremity extending  far  up  town,  he  s-  iired  rooms  on 
the  first  floor,  with  a  private  balcony  overlooking  the 
ocean,  the  trampling  Hoard  Walk  on  stilts  stretching  in 
front,  the  waves  running  up  the  smooth  sand  under- 
neath at  high  tide.  They  were  in  the  midst  of  a  city  of 
tinder,  pine  and  paint ;  a  town  of  kindling  wood ;  a 
tcmptaticMi  to  Providence  or  to  the  devil  who  holds  a 
torch.  Let  a  careless  light,  a  high  wind  and  the  psycho- 
logical moment  coincide,  and  Atlantic  City  will  be  a 
trace  of  ashes  on  the  sand;  a  cloud  of  smoke  in  the  ho- 
rizon; a  smell  oi  rosin  in  the  air.  Here  thousands  of 
gladsome  folk  feasted  and  danced,  and  paced  the  l>oarcl 
Walk,  giving  no  thought  to  the  morrow  or  tlie  lurid  mid- 
night that  might  intervene.  Along  the  I.oard  Walk 
Vanity  Fair  had  set  its  booths :  on  the  land  side,  shows, 
shoi)s,  theatres,  restaurants,  picture  galleries,  shooting 
ranges,  mineral  water  stand'-  ( as  many  glasses  as  you 
please  for  five  cents,  arctic  cold),  .soda  water  fountains, 
ice-cream  tables,  whirligigs  and  what  not  in  unbroken 
line;  o.i  the  water  side  liere  and  there,  covered  pavilions 
with  seats,  and  here  and  there  spindle-shanked  j^'ers  jut- 
ting out  into  the  ocean,  surmounted  by  mammoth  i)uild- 
ings,  where  pleasure  reigned  ui)reme  at  from  ten  cenls 
to  a  quarter.  Who  could  fail  to  find  enjoyment  in  such 
a  place? 

One  at  least  moved  among  the  throng,  patient  with  it 
all  hut  indifferent.  Wherever  she  took  her  slow  way 
through  the  wide  hall,  extending  from  end  to  end  of  the 


H 


460 


The  Victors 


■    3  -  J     V    ■  1 

-  -^   -  I 


long  hotel,  or  on  tlic  hmad  vcraii'Ia  surouiulin^j  it.  place 
was  silently  maile  for  her;  the  most  hixu  •■oiis  rocking 
chair  was  unobtrusively  pu'.  at  her  disposal;  for  America 
is  the  home  of  delicate  courtesy,  and  a  woman  finds  all 
men  her  servants.  It  had  become  kiunvn  that  this  sad- 
faced  lady,  so  youn.'^r  'ii"!  yt't  with  a  p:limmcr  of  silver  in 
her  abundant  h^'r,  was  a  sufferer  from  that  almosi-for- 
ijotten  tra/edy  of  the  winter  before  in  New  York,  and  a 
respectful  sympathy  followed  her  footsteps. 

Maj^uire  himself  was  now  here,  now  there,  now  some- 
where else.  Eajjer  and  enterprising  rep')rters  came 
dashing  from  New  York  only  to  find  that  he  had  passed 
them  on  the  fast  train  Roing  east.  The  Philadelphia 
papers  arrived  early  each  morning  at  y\tlantic  City,  but 
I'at  had  no  interest  in  them.  He  didn't  mind  what  they 
said;  they  were  out  of  his  jurisdiction;  but  he  grasped 
the  first  New  York  sheet  almost  before  the  boy  had  cut 
the  string  of  the  ungainly  bundle  which  the  expressman 
heaved  in  through  the  basement  window  next  the  news 
stand.  At  other  times  Maguire  was  the  lavish  cus- 
tomer of  the  telegraphic  youth,  whose  counter  and  click- 
ing instrument  were  adjacent  to  the  mountainous  assort- 
ment of  paper-covered  literature.  Or  when  the  Boss 
was  not  telegraphing,  there  might  be  visible  through  the 
heavy  bevelled  plate  glass  window  of  the  telephone  cr:'»- 
inet  a  section  of  his  broad  back,  thick  neck  and  pow.i- 
ful,  close-cropped,  cannon-ball  head. 

On  one  occasion  the  comparative  quiet  of  this  rather 
select  hotel  was  disturbed  by  the  invasion  of  a  delega- 
tion from  New  York  who  wanted  to  see  the  TJoss;  men 
loudly  dressed,  with  hats  on  the  bridges  of  their  noses, 
and  cigars  tilted  skywards;  incongruous  amidst  these 
surroundings,  knowing  it,  and  trying  to  carry  it  off  with 
a  swagger;  elbows  out-thrust,  and  a  pugilistic  air  in 
their  walk.  A  general  what-have-you-got-to-say-about- 
it  attitude  distincuished  them.  They  wondered  why  Pat 
had  taken  up  his  quarters  in  a  hotel  that  hadn't  a  bar,  but 
thcv  made  up  fur  the  deficiency  elsewhere.  And  Ma- 
guire was  in  his  element  among  them,  knew  where  the 
best  liquid  was  to  be  had,  and  would  as  soon  see  them 


"Turns  insurrection  to  rclij:;ion  "      461 


d'lw  a  revolver  as  a  purse  while  lie  was  with  tluni  He 
called  thi'in  all  by  their  Christian  names,  u.id  would 
neither  ^ive  nor  receive  the  title  of  '  Mr."  IK-  was 
j^eiral  and  friendly,  confident  d  now  wuli  this  one,  now 
with  thr.t,  and  when  they  dei)arte(l  each  felt  that  he  had 
been  specially  marked  out  as  sharinjj  the  inner  tlun..  ;hts 
of  the  I'oss.  Macli  looked  upon  himself  as  hein^  the 
chosen  tepository  of  secrets  re^ardinp  the  difhculty  of 
Ma.'jfuire's  position,  his  desire  to  do  the  rifjb^  thin>;  all 
round  and,  if  none  of  them  ^ot  exactly  what  iie  wanted, 
except  in  the  way  of  drinks,  all  $3^01  something,  if  it  was 
only  an  assurance  of  favours  to  come.  livery  man  in  the 
delegation  believed  he  would  h.a'  •■  been  the  one  se- 
lected could  the  lioss  have  had  evc.;  thing  his  own  way. 
which  it  seemed  was  not  yet  the  case.  They  called  him 
I'oss,  but  Maguire  insisted  there  was  no  I5oss ;  he  was 
only  an  adviser,  and  sometimes  his  advice  was  neglected. 
They  gave  him  a  tigers  yell  as  their  special  car.  like 
themselves,  loaded  with  whisky,  pulled  out  from  the  long 
shingled  shed  called  the  depot,  and  he  stood  on  the  plat- 
form waving  his  handkerchief  at  them ;  then  he  wont  to 
the  nearest  Western  Union  office  and  telegraphed  (Jrady 
for  Heaven's  sake  to  kec'i  those  mugs  at  home  if  he 
could. 

Yes,  Patrick,  these  were  your  busy  days,  and  most 
deftly  did  you  pull  the  wires.  Xo  man  could  have 
moulded  more  diplomatically  the  crude  material  with 
which  you  had  to  work.  Important,  too.  these  large  af- 
fairs, craftily  dealt  with ;  the  concerns  of  the  metropolis 
of  the  western  world,  with  no  thought  of  the  city's  good 
hampering  your  designs ;  a  fowl  to  be  plucked ;  but, 
gently,  so  that  the  bird  might  not  be  goaded  to  scream 
too  loudly,  or  peck  at  the  stripping  hand. 

Nevertheless,  nearer  to  you  than  all  these  things,  there 
is  need  for  caution.  Walk  warily  and  think  deeply,  for 
this  matter  is  saturated  with  the  essence  of  life  or  of 
death.  Look  to  your  wife,  and  that  not  through  the 
fumes  nf  bourbon,  but  through  the  clear  medium  of 
truth  and  understanding. 

Her  mind  may  be  likened  to  one  of  those  emerald  pas- 


y 


462 


The  Victors 


i  it 


i  tr  M  *m 


nil 


tures  of  sweet  pjass  among  which  she  spent  her  child- 
hood. It  has  been  rudely  torn  by  the  ploughshare  of  ca- 
lamity, burying  the  greensward  from  sight,  and  turning 
to  the  air  rough  brown  clods  on  which  the  eye  rests  with 
dismay.  But  the  preacher  spoke  truth,  however  scorn- 
fully his  trite  maxims  were  received.  Time  is  the  great 
assuager.  The  frosts  of  grief  have  disintegrated  the* 
clods ;  the  gentle  rain  of  tears  has  loosened  the  stub- 
born lumps  ;  the  field  is  still  brown,  but  the  mould  is  ready 
for  the  sower.  Xow  is  the  time  for  your  preacher  or 
your  priest.  Even  if  none  such  arrive,  the  hidden  grass 
will  reappear ;  but  if  a  sower  come,  beware  that  the  seed 
be  true,  and  of  honest  culture. 

"  Patsey,  did  you  see  those  Shakers  down  in  the 
hall?" 

"  No.    What  are  they  shaking  for?    Drinks?'" 

The  silence  and  the  look  of  reproach  brought  Ma- 
guire  to  his  senses,  and  he  resolutely  shook  himself  free 
of  the  muddling  influences  of  his  hospitality. 

"  Don't  mind  me,  Lottie,  my  dear,  I'm  always  talking 
through  my  hat  when  I  get  the  chance.  To  tell  the 
straight  truth,  Lottie,  I've  been  round  so  much  with 
them  tanks  from  New  York  that  it's  a  wonder  I  can  sec 
anything;  s'  truth.  I  passed  the  hotel  twice  without  no- 
ticing it.  I  wouldn't  have  been  in  now  if  I  hadn't  stum- 
bled against  it ;  it  was  a  doorstep  that  happened  to  be 
cluttering  my  feet,  and  so,  as  the  elevator  was  sober,  I 
managed  to  get  up  here.  It  is  the  Shakers  ye'r  talking 
about?  What  are  they?  Is  there  any  difference  be- 
tween them  and  the  Quakers  ?  " 

"  The  Shakers  do  not  believe  in  marriage ;  the  Quak- 
ers do;  that's  one  difference." 

"  Ah,  then  the  Shakers  can  count  me  out.  I'll  not  join 
them.  I'm  a  Quaker  I  am.  And  I  can  save  them  the 
price  of  a  passage  to  Cork,  for  they'll  never  convert  tlio 
Irish  nation  to  any  such  doctrine,  I  can  tell  them  that. 
We  Irishmen  are  too  fond  of  our  wives  and  our — " 

He  checked  himself,  stretched  out  his  feet  and  gazed 
at  them.  I  lis  wife  sighed  and  looked  at  him  with  liquid 
eyes,  but  went  bravely  on. 


"  Turns  insurrection  to  religion  "       463 

"  Two  of  these  Shaker  women  have  a  room  on  the 
office  floor,  where  they  sell  thinj^s  made  bv  the  com- 
munity— cloaks,  dressed  dolls,  wcjrk  baskets,  all  in  j^ay 
colours,  while  they  themselves  are  dressed  so  soberly. 
Such  dove-like  women,  with  low,  soft  voices ;  it  is  a 
pleasure  with  a  touch  of  melancholy  in  it  to  hear  lliem 
say  so  gently  and  quaintly  '  thee '  and  '  thou  '  and 
'  yea  '  and  '  nay."  They  were  so  restful  and  soothing 
and  at  such  peace  with  all  the  world  tha.  it  seemed  to  me 
if  they  would  but  press  their  cool,  healing  hands  on  my 
brow  it  would  stop  its  aching  and  throbbing." 

"  Let's  have  these  wemen  up  here  at  once,"  cried  Ma- 
guire,  starting  unsteadily  to  his  feet. 

"  No,  no.  dear.  They  are  busy.  They  have  to  market 
their  goods  for  the  benefit  of  the  Shaker  community." 

"  They'll  never  sell  quicker  than  when  I'm  with  them. 
I'll  buy  their  whole  outfit  and  pay  double  prices  for  it ; 
yes,  and  send  the  conglomeration  to  the  poorest  district 
in  New  York  and  distribute  it  where  it  will  do  the  most 
good.     Come  along  down  and  introduce  me." 

"  Not  to-day,  Patsey." 

Maguire  was  quick  to  see  the  imputation,  although  his 
wife  had  striven  to  keep  all  hint  of  it  from  her  tone. 
Many  another  man  would  have  resented  it,  but  he  re- 
plied in  subdued  voice: 

"  All  right,  all  right,  Lottie.  Just  as  you  say,  my 
dear."' 

He  walked  with  somewhat  excessive  erectness  to  the 
window  and  looked  out  at  the  ocean,  muttering  to  him- 
self: 

"  Maguire.  ye  drinking  brute.  I'd  club  the  head  off 
ye  if  I  got  ye  outside.  Ye'r  not  fit  to  speak  to  her,  an' 
ye  know  it." 

They  went  down  next  day,  but  the  Shakers  had  gone 
and  a  commercial  traveller  from  Boston  occupied  the 
room. 


j  I 


it 


CHAPTER   VII 

"and  sweet  religion  makes  a  rhapsody  of  words" 

At  the  cityward  end  of  the  hotel  was  an  ample  dining- 
room,  and  from  this  there  ran  the  whole  Icnjjth  of  the 
building  a  spacious  hall,  like  a  broad,  straight  river,  wid- 
ening into  a  lake  at  the  office,  ai.J  opening  out  into  sev- 
eral bays  as  it  proceeded  to  the  ocean,  bays  that 
were  sub-parlours,  furnished,  one  in  the  Japanese 
style,  another  with  Turkish  divans  and  pearl  inlaid 
octagonal  tables,  handy  for  coffee  cups.  At  last 
the  hall  debouched  into  a  considerable  drawing-room  in 
which  stood  the  grand  piano.  The  banks  of  this  direct 
canal  were  lined  with  palms  and  flowering  plants,  and 
the  whole  runway  was  a  lounging  place,  replete  with 
cane  rockers  and  easy  chairs  of  every  imaginable  va- 
riety. In  the  office  enlargement  there  was  always  more 
or  less  of  a  throng,  especially  when  letters  were  deliv- 
ered and  trains  from  New  York  or  Philadelphia  arrived. 
The  caroets  everywhere  were  thick  and  soft  and  of  sub- 
dued hue ;  good  engravings  and  etchings  lined  the  walls, 
with  here  and  there  an  oil  painting  or  water  colour,  but 
the  air  of  luxury  and  comfort  culminated  in  the  drawint?- 
room.  This  capacious  apartment  had  several  windows 
and  one  that  was  notable — a  magnificent  sheet  of  plate 
glass  of  such  limpid  translucency  that  more  than  one 
newcomer,  unconsciously  imitating  Alice's  treatment  of 
her  looking-glass,  had  been  tempted  to  step  through  it  to 
the  veranda  outside.  From  the  comparative  obscurity 
of  the  hall  this  immense  pane  had  the  startling  appearance 
of  an  animated  picture,  framed  in  dull,  heavy  gold,  pos- 
sessing as  immediate  foreground  the  never-ceasing  pro- 
cession on  the  Board  Walk ;  beyond,  the  dappled,  spark- 
464 


"  Religion  makes  a  rhapsody  of  words  "   465 


i 


ling  ocean,  clotted  with  distant  sails,  and  across  the  en- 
tire sheet,  as  if  marked  by  a  ruler,  tlie  clear-cut  line  of 
the  horizon,  blue  sky  meeting  bluer  water,  the  one  flecked 
with  fleecy  clouds,  the  other  with  snowy  canvas. 

Though  cool  and  quiet  this  parlour  was  in  little  de- 
mand, the  visitors,  with  singular  unanimity.  i)referring 
the  broad,  breezy  veranda,  where  chatter  and  laughter 
were  incessant,  the  gay  fluttering  summer  dresses  of  the 
ladies  bestowing  variety  and  piquancy  upon  an  attractive 
scene. 

lint  in  the  more  secluded  drawing-room  Lottie  Ma- 
guire  preferred  to  sit  opposite  this  magic  picture  when 
the  solitude  of  her  own  apartment  became  irksome  to  her 
and  she  felt  a  natural  liking  for  contact  with  the  cheery 
public  life  of  the  hotel,  though  lacking  any  actual  desire 
for  mingling  with  it.  She  had  this  parlour  very  much  to 
herself;  sometimes  a  girl,  with  the  sprightliness  of  a 
gaily  decked  humming  bird,  flitted  in,  took  a  glance  at 
the  tall  mirror,  gave  a  dab  here  and  there  to  her  hat,  her 
hair  or  her  plumage  and  flitted  out  again ;  sometimes  one 
or  two  of  the  old  ladies  of  the  place  sat  down  before  the 
great  window  and  enjoyed  subdued  conversation. 

One  day  a  tall,  slow-moving  laily,  who  wore  a  per- 
petual smile,  perhaps  because  her  teeth  were  so  perfect, 
drew  her  chair  near  to  the  one  in  which  Mrs.  Maguire 
was  seated.  Her  nose  was  decorated  with  Fold-rimmcd 
glasses  and  she  had  a  habit  of  looking  over  tlicm,  with 
an  expression  most  benevolent.  There  was  an  ai'-  of  cul- 
ture about  her,  and  her  voice  was  low  and  melodious,  an 
acoustic  lx)on  to  tired  nerves,  where  many  of  the  tf)nes 
heard  were  of  the  high-keyed,  shricky  sort,  with  gusts  of 
piercing  laughter. 

"  You  do  not  seem  to  l>e  enjoying  your  stay  at  Atlantic 
City,"  said  the  tall  lady,  beaming  upon  Mrs.  Maguire. 

'■  I  enjoy  it  as  much  as  I  should  enjoy  any  other  place,' 
replied  Lottie,  quietly. 

"  You  say  that  somewhat  hopelessly." 

"  I  am  in  mourning." 

"  So  I  see,  hut  that  should  not  interfere  with  one's 
peace  of  mind."' 


466 


The  Victors 


I 


Lottie  looked  at  the  smile  with  an  expression  of  sur- 
prise. 

"  I  have  lost  my  two  children,"  sne  said  simply,  but 
with  finality  in  her  tone. 

"  Do  not  say  "  lost,'  I  beg  of  you,  dear  Mrs  Maguire. 
They  told  me  that  was  your  name,  and  I  have  been  yearn- 
ing to  speak  with  you  for  some  days.  You  don't  mind 
my  doing  so,  I  am  sure  ?  " 

"  You  are  very  kind,  but  I  would  rather  not— I  have 
had  so  much  attempted  consolation— as  if  anything  could 
console.  People  are  well  meaning,  but  they— they  do  not 
understand." 

"  Indeed  they  do  not.  I  quite  agree  with  you,  Mrs. 
Maguire.  But  the  dawn  has  overspread  the  east,  the 
day  is  brea,king  and  the  light  will  soon  shine  over  all  the 
earth.  And  it  is  the  crowning  glory  of  our  sex  that  m 
this,  the  new  land  of  promise,  the  Christ  of  our  latter 
day  should  be  a  woman." 

The  apostle  clasped  her  hands  in  rapt  adoration,  but 
Lottie  glanced  quickly  at  her,  with  something  like  alarm 
enlarging  her  clear  eyes. 

"  I  don't  know  what  you're  talking  about." 

"  I  was  sure  of  it,  and  I  am  so  glad  to  be  the  first  to 
bring  you  the  glorious  tidings— especially  glorious  to 
us,  the  suffering  women,  now  to  suffer  no  more. 
Doubtless  they  have  been  feeding  you  with  husks  crudely 
garnered  from  the  Bible,  as  if  that  were  food  for  the 
etherealised  minds  of  to-day.  We  have  gone  far  smce 
that  book,  useful  in  its  time,  was  written,  but  now  value- 
less until  interpreted  by  the  most  divine  of  created  be- 
ings, Mary  Mason  Baker  Glover  Patterson  Eddy,  of 
Boston.  To  her  came  the  inspiration,  and  she  stands 
to-day  the  goddess  of  elucidation,  the  crown  of  true 
knowledge  on  her  glorified  brow." 

"  Are  you  speaking  of  some  new  kind  of  religion  ? 

"  New,  yet  forever  and  everlastingly  old — older  than 
time,  newer  than  to-morrow,  now  permitted  of  promulga- 
tion,' for  their  eyes  can  see  the  light,  yes,  and  bear  it,  the 
light  shining  through  the  life  and  works  of  Mother 
Eddy,  the  seeress  of  our  closing  century,  the  chosen  ot 


"  Religion  makes  a  rhapsody  of  words  "   467 

God  to  reveal  His  purpose  to  this  favoured  genera- 
tion." 

"  Perhaps,  madam,  if  you  had  heen  bereaved  as  I 
have  been  bereaved,  high-soundinfj  vague  phrases  would 
have  brought  little  balm  to  your  crushed  heart." 

The  beaming  lady  did  not  resent  this  imputation ;  her 
smile  broadened  and  she  seemed  to  glow  across  her 
glasses  at  the  speaker. 

"  What  you  term  bereavement  has  been  my  lot  as  well 
as  yours.  Three  of  my  little  children  were  chemicaliscd 
within  one  week  by  what  the  world  calls  diphtheritis." 

"  Chemicaliscd  ?  " 

"  The  word  would  be  '  died  '  in  your  vocabulary." 

"  Three !  How  dreadful !  Forgive  me  that  I  spoke 
as  I  did.  Was  the  physician  unable  to  do  anvtlv'ng  for 
them?" 

"Physician?  I  allowed  no  physician  to  approach 
them.  I  am  an  enlightened  woman,  and  physicians  will 
soon  be  relegated  to  the  dark  ages  to  which  they  belong. 
But  the  glory  that  came  to  n  ;, — perhaps,  however,  you 
remember  some  account  of  the  Commonwealth  versus 
LeGrue  trial  ? " 

"  No,  I  never  heard  of  it." 

"  It  was  in  all  the  papers.     I   am   Mrs.   LeGrue." 

"  My  husband  does  not  care  for  me  to  read  the  papers, 
and  I  confess  I  have  but  little  interest  in  them." 

"  Never  mind.  I  have  it  all  in  a  pamphlet  which  I 
will  give  vou,  reported  by  our  own  stenographer,  with 
a  few  words  of  mtroduction  by  Mrs.  Eddy  herself.  Oh, 
I  am  favoured  among  women,  I  was  considered  fit  to 
suffer  martyrdom  for  the  faith.  The  state  indicted  me 
for  manslaughter,  but  it  found  that  iron  bars  did  not  a 
prison  make,  nor — nor — what  you  may  call  it,  a  cage." 

"  I  hope  you  were  not  imprisoned,"  said  Lottie  with 
growing  interest. 

"  No,  I  was  acquitted  triumphantly,  in  spite  of  man- 
made  laws,  a  corrupt  and  prejudiced  press,  and  an 
ignorant  biassed  judge.  This  unjust  magistrate  forbade 
my  going  on  with  the  address  I  had  prepared  for  the 
jury,  but  it  is  all  printed  in  the  pamphlet  I  mentioned, 


m 


i 

H 

^M 

^ 

:iMI 

1 

1 

b| 

] 

j 

' 

1  '^ 

M- 

i 

ii 

^^^^H 

I 

468 


The  Victors 


and  you  shall  read  it  there.  He  said  it  had  nothing  to 
do  with  the  point  at  issue,  but  I  knew  what  the  true  issue 
was,  a  view  refused  to  his  benighted  mind.  He  thought 
they  were  trying  mc.  Far  otherwise.  They  themselves 
were  on  trial,  and  this  was  but  an  opportunity  for  me  to 
make  my  testimony  heard  among  men."' 

"  r>ut  surely  you  sorrowed  for  your  children  ?  " 

"  Why  should  I  ?  They  were  changed  to  the  world, 
but  not  to  me.  Sorrow  is  but  a  futile  mental  expression, 
as  pain  is  but  a  myth — an  evil  thought.  But  believe 
that  you  are  glad,  and  you  are  glad.  Matter  does  not 
exist ;  we  only  think  it  exists.  All  is  mind,  and  mind  is 
God  and  God  is  mind." 

"  I  do  not  understand  you,''  said  Lottie,  shaking  her 
head  helplessly. 

"  I  will  lend  you  my  most  precious  treasure,  Mrs. 
Eddy's  divine  book,  '  Science  and  Health,'  until  you  can 
get  one  of  your  own,  which  I  am  sure  you  will  prize, 
by-and-by,  as  I  do  mine.  Read  it  thoughtfully,  not  try- 
ing to  comprehen'  it  by  fallacious  human  uncferstanding 
— oh,  it  is  far,  far  above  all  that — but  by  the  inner  light  of 
the  soul,  a  God-given  faculty  which  I  think  we  modern 
woiTien  possess  in  such  a  transcendent  degree.  Then  I 
will  give  you  some  pamphlets  and  some  magazines, 
wherein  you  will  read  testimony  borne  by  those  who 
formerly  grovelled  in  darkness,  looking  toward  the  vain 
solace  of  creed  and  superstit'on,  but  now  rejoicing  in 
the  refuli;encc  of  tlie  mounta'n  top." 

Lottie  promised  with  little  enthusiasm  to  read  what- 
ever was  bestowed  upon  her,  and  for  some  days  s1ic 
struggled  with  the  new  cult,  finding,asMrs.LeGrue  pic- 
dictcd,  that  human  undcrstand'ng  concentrated  upon  the 
subject  was  indeed  misplaced.  But  in  some  way  the 
reading  fascinated  her,  and  she  persevered  at  it,  finally 
obtaining  from  Boston  an  express  package  of  books  which 
the  smiling  lady  recommended  to  her.  In  like  manner 
her  acquaintance  with  the  eloquent  Mrs.  LeGrue  flour- 
ishetl,  and  the  big  woman  seemed  to  exercise  a  hyp- 
notic influence  over  her.  The  dislike  Lottie  had  at 
first    entertained    for   the    woman    vanished,    and    they 


Religion  makes  a  rhapsody  of  words  "  469 


were    always    t(j    he    f(niml    topelber   durinff    Majrui 
frc(iuent  abse 


re  s 
ences.  1  liev  sat  side  by  side  in  the  drawinj;- 
room,  or  promenaded  iloiig  tiie  I'loard  Walk  absorbed 
in  conversation.  Lottie's  sadness  fell  away  from  her. 
and  she  became  once  more  the  cheerful,  contented  persdii 
she  had  previously  been.  This  chanp;e  ddij^dited  her 
husband,  and  when  she  attributed  it  all  to  Christian 
Science,  he  blessed  Christian  Science.  Willingly  he 
undcrljok  to  rcid  Mrs.  Eddy's  "'Science  and  Health," 
an  expensive  volume  covered  with  limp  leather,  a  palpa- 
ble imitation  of  that  triumph  of  book-making,  the  Oxford 
Bible,  as  its  contents  were  an  imitation  of  a  religion. 
The  print  was  large,  and  Maguire  struggled  through  it  on 
the  train  coming  from  and  going  to  Xew  York.  Me  also 
perused  the  pamphlets  and  the  magazines.  He  could 
tlevour  a  great  deal  of  reading  matter  when  he  tried,  and 
hi's  mind  was  quick  to  grasp  the  gist  of  an  argument,  but 
the  logic  of  Christian  Science  baffled  him  and  scored  his 
brow  with  perplexity. 

"  Did  they  teach  Christiar  Sc'cnce  in  your  rollcg'N 
John?"  he  asked  the  Mayor  one  day,  finding  him  alone 
in  his  office. 

"  Never  heard  of  it.     What  is  it  ?  " 
"  That's  what  I  thought  you'd  tell  me.  perhaps." 
"  I   know   something  of   Christianity — in  theory — and 
had   a  smattering  of   science   in  practice,  but  the  com- 
bination is  new  to  me.'' 

"  Well.  I've  been  studying  it  of  late.  It's  a  great 
thing — religion  with  an  elevator  and  all  modern  imjirove- 
ments.  According  to  it.  everything's  just  like  the  mug- 
wumps :  you  het.r  a  lot  about  them,  but  you  can't  find 
them  when  you  come  to  count  the  votes.  I'm  not  much 
on  new  religions  myself;  seems  to  mc  I'd  rather  trust 
the  old  roads  when  I  try  to  get  to  heaven ;  they've  been 
longer  at  it  and  they  ought  to  know  the  way.  Still,  I 
dunno.  Why  couldn't  we  have  the  latest  inventions  in 
religion  as  in  anything  else?  Our  grandfathers  were 
contented  with  the  stage-coach,  and  our  fathers  rid  on  a 
slow  fre'ght,  but  we  like  the  limited,  and  a  dollar  for  a 
chair  in  the  parlour  car." 


470 


The  Victors 


i. 

I 


"What  are  the  principles  of  this  new  fad?" 

"  Well,  now,  you  get  me  there,  John.  When  I  started 
reading  that  book — it's  writ  by  a  woman  with  a  powerful 
flow  of  language — I  said  to  myself  either  this  lady  ought 
to  he  in  some  nice  comfortable  lunatic  asylum,  or  I  should 
be  wearing  a  strait  jacket,  I  dunno  just  which,  but  I  saw 
we  had  no  business  communing  together.  Our  minds 
weren't  built  on  the  same  interchangeable  syst  m  at  all, 
at  all.  I  can  understand  the  New  York  fry-bunc — at 
least  I  know  what  the  boys  think  they're  trying  to  say, 
but  this  book  ov  Mary  Jane's  is  beyond  me.  However 
that  may  be,  Christian  Science  is  getting  to  be  a  g  »t 
organisation,  John!  I'm  on  to  that  part  of  it.  "^  len 
they're  looking  after  their  souls,  they're  not  neglecting 
good  hard  cash  'or  their  bodies,  and  that  makes  me 
think  there's  some  inspiration  in  the  thing  after  all. 
They've  got  branches  everywhere  and  rr.illions  of 
members,  and  they  see  that  the  contribution  box  doesn't 
fall  to  pieces  for  lack  of  use.  They  can  cure  any  mortal 
thing  that's  the  matter  with  you  by  just  sending  a 
thought  message  over  an  invisible  wire  that  doesn't 
charge  any  toll,  and  that  without  any  medicine  or  any 
expensive  going  to  college.  That's  a  great  thing.  John. 
It's  tough  on  the  drug  stores,  but  lucrative  for  the  Chris- 
tian Science  nobs,  for  they  charge  as  much  as  a  regular 
doctor,  and  insist  on  their  money  in  greenbacks,  and  not 
in  thought  currency  like  the  treatment,  which  shows  their 
own  good  sense,  whatever  it  says  for  their  patients' 
understanding.  Begobs,  John,  if  we  could  work  that 
racket  on  elections  there  would  be  no  need  of  a  campaign 
fund,  or  a  deal  with  the  virtuous  republican  party.  We'd 
just  sit  here  and  thought-wave  the  hoodlums  along  Fiftli 
Avenue  to  vote  for  us." 

*'  Then  I  gather  you  don't  believe  in  Christian  Scienc", 
Pat?" 

"  I  don't  get  enough  out  of  the  book  to  believe  or  dis- 
believe. I  dunno  what  she's  driving  at  half  the  time. 
It  reads  like  an  editorial  in  the  Evcnini^  Post  mixed  up 
with  one  from  the  Morning  Journal,  all  conglomerated 
with  a  milkshake  machine.     But  the  doUr-s  and  cents 


"  Religion  makes  a  rhapsody  of  words  "   471 

part  of  the  show  which  I  ^et  out  of  th«^  mapfazinc  and  the 
jiamphlei  is  plain  sailing.  There's  no  be-j^nb  nonsense 
about  that.  And  it's  quite  in  line  with  the  jjcnius  of  the 
time.  When  Jesus  Christ  was  crurificd  there  was  only 
Ilis  clothing  to  cast  lots  for.  When  tl.o  promoter  of 
Christian  Science  croaks  they'll  be  millions  to  divide." 


BOOK  VI 


ON    THt  SUMMIT 


CHAPTER    I 

"I    AM    COME    TO    FKTCII    YOU    IIOMF.  " 

TnKRK  is  a  Stability  of  debt  as  well  as  a  stability  of 
resr'irce.  A  man  may  become  so  beavily  involved  tint 
his  creditors  dare  not  let  him  sink.  They  stand  to  lose 
everything  if  he  goes  down,  whereas  if  they  sustain 
him  he  may  pull  through.  It  had  reached  this  pass  wit!-. 
McAllister  when  the  cheque  of  Grace  Van  Ness  came 
into  his  possession.  He  had  little  to  fear  from  those  t  > 
whom  he  owed  the  most  money ;  it  was  the  smaller  cred- 
itors who  were  pressing  him.  and  any  one  of  them  at  a'ly 
moment  might  wreck  him  if  no  funds  were  availabU>  for 
immediate  lif|uidatioi.  of  claims.  It  is  possible  that  one 
or  other  of  the  more  important  firms  »vith  whch  he  dealt 
might  even  have  .-applied  him  with  money  besides  trust- 
ing him  further  with  goods,  but  to  make  such  applicrition 
would  have  been  tantamount  to  a  confession  of  failure : 
it  was  a  desperate  remedy,  to  be  tried  only  when  the 
patient  was  in  extremis. 

Monro's  unexpected  opposition  to  the  cashing  of  tho 
cheque  seemed  like  the  refusal  of  a  life-buoy  by  a  drown- 
ing man.  The  further  threat  of  withdrawal  if  tlie  only 
money  available  was  made  use  of  brought  McAllisur 
to  ine  verge  of  a  nervous  collapse.  Foi  the  first  tiirc 
ii.  his  energetic  life  he  became  thoroughly  disheartened, 
and  sat  with  arms  on  the  table  and  his  head  Ixnved  ui)(in 
them,  not  knowing  what  to  do,  scarcely  capauie  of  con- 
nected thought.  He  felt  that  he  could  not  go  on  it 
Monro  deserted  him,  yet  disaster  confronted  him  if 
472 


■'^ 


"  I  am  eoinc  to  fctcli  vou  hoii 


ic 


473 


some  thousands  of  dollars  were  not  I'nsuintlv  forth- 
coming-. He  had  reached  no  conclusion,  when  at  last 
the  door  opened.  Monro  entered,  Inni);  up  his  hat  in  its 
usual  place  and  sat  down  at  Iiis  tlesk  without  a  word.  A 
jjlance  at  his  jaded  face  showed  McAllister  that  his  part- 
ner also  had  l)e«"i  passinj^  through  a  crisis. 

"Jim — Jim,  old  man,  you — you  ccnddn'  '^ave  meant 
what  you  said,"  ventured  the  senior  memher  in  a  falter- 
inj;  voice. 

"  I  did  at  the  time.  T.en ;  I  don't  now,  1  made  a  mis- 
take.    If  you're  williufj  to  let  it  p  >  at  that,  I  am." 

'■  r.ut,  Jim — how  about  the  che<|uc?" 

•'  The  cheque?  Well,  I  puess  the  hest  tliinj,--  is  to  cash 
it.     That's  what  it  was  written  for.  I  suppose." 

i5en  jumped  uj).  jjrasped  the  hand  of  his  friend,  tried 
to  si)eak,  but  could  not,  then  thui},'  his  hat  mu  his  head 
Jtnd  rted. 

Monro  had  once  complained  of  thi^  numerous  slorn.y 
capes  the  firm  had  I)een  compelled  to  weather,  hut  it 
seemed  after  this  final  promontory  was  shaved  they  were 
at  last  on  the  {,i>en  sea,  with  the  wind  as  they  wanted  it. 
\yhen  prosperity  came,  it  came  with  a  rusli,  and  debts 
dissolved  before  it  like  hillocks  of  sand  in  a  risin;.^'  tide. 
Creditors  who  had  been  insistiut  became  now  most 
prracious  when  their  forlvearance  was  no  lonjjer  n.eded, 
and  those  .vho,  through  fear,  had  been  lenient  said  thev 
always  knew  Mc.Mlister  was  a  remarkable  business  man : 
they  had  selected  him  for  a  winner  from  the  very  starting 
post.  You  will  find  a  hundred  men  in  Xew  ^'ork  to-day 
who  gave  McAllister  his  chance  in  life,  who  are  the 
founders  of  his  fortune,  who  recognised  his  ability  long 
before  any  one  else  noticed  it,  who  said,  "  Mark  mv 
w-ords,  that  young  man  will  succeed,"  when  the  rest  of 
New  York  was  doubtfully  shaking  its  head. 

Prosperity  made  no  difference  in  the  ])ear;ng  of  Mc- 
Allister. He  had  been  so  optimistic  in  failure  that  he 
could  hardly  be  more  so  in  success,  and  there  was  no 
reason  that  he  should  become  less  confident.  He  had 
been  so  sure  of  the  future  that  the  actual  possession  of 
an  ever-increasing  income  merely  gave  tangibility  to  a 


474 


The  Victors 


realm  of  wealth  he  ha<l  always  occupied  in  imaKination. 
When  necessity  compelled  him  to  move  into  cheaper  and 
cheaper  premises,  so  far  as  his  home  was  concerned,  if  a 
place  frequented  so  seldom  could  he  dcsi  .nated  home,  his 
happy  disposition  showed  the  reason  of  renK)val  to  he 
invariahly  the  jTrcatcr  healthfulness  of  the  situation. 
Wherever  McAllister  happened  to  be  living  at  the 
moment  was  the  exact  place  he  would  have  chosen  had 
he  been  ten  times  a  millionaire.  The  fact  that  U  hap- 
pened to  be  an  economical  residence  vas  a  mere  accident. 
I  le  moved  up  the  ladder  of  opulence  as  cheerfully  as  he 
had  K  <1"W"-  '^  '"an  must  learn  by  experience,  he 
said;  Ik  .lad  tried  the  remote  districts  and  found  them 
wanting?.  We  came  to  rest  in  a  superb  suite  of  room 
in  an  expensive  hotel  on  Fifth  Avenue,  and  that  seemed 
for  a  time  the  acme  of  bliss. 

The  resolution  to  build  a  house  formulated  itselt  m 
his  mind  one  dav,  and  the  architect  was  at  work  the  next. 
McAllister  intended  thi^  residence  to  Ix;  success  made 
visible   in   stone :   a  majjnif^cent  birthday   p-escnt  to  his 
wife:  a  kind  of  testimonial  showing  his  appreciation  of 
her  common  sense  in  mavrying  so  potent  a  man.     He 
inquired  for  an  hour  or  so  into  the  merits  t)f  various 
architects,  s.k-cted  his  man,  tlun^'  before  him  a  few  ideas 
that  he  wishc  1  carried  out,  and  left  the  rest  to  the  artist 
he    had    chosui.     Consequently    he   achieved    a   notaljlc 
dwelling      Tl<-  furnished  the  mansion  on  somewhat  the 
same  principle,  going  always  to  the  expert,  and  generally 
accepting  his   advice.     He  did   not   think   muc-  of   tlv 
painting     purchased  on  his  behalf,  but  he  had  a  New 
^'ork  man's  respect  for  their  price.     He  would  have  pre- 
ferred   sometl  ing    more    in    the    style    of    the    popular 
chromo;  a  picture  should  tell  a  story,  he  thought,  and 
the  more  moral  the  story  the  better  the  picture.     How- 
ever, painting  was  not  in  his  line ;  technique  was  dou!)t- 
less  a  good  thing  to  have  about  the  place,  and  if  so.  it 
was  well  to  get  the  best  in  the  market,  no  m-tter  w  hat 
the  cost.     Theoreticallv    the    house    and  its  belnngmir> 
should  have  been  an  object  lesson  in  bad  taste,  '  ;it  it  was 
actually  a  triumph,  for  he  had  gone  in  each  instance  to 


WM^'^S^L*^^.. 


"  I  am  come  to  fetch  yoii  home  "      475 

the  man  who  knew,  usually  acccptin>,'  c<hicati>l  opinion, 
even  when  it  conriicted  with  liis  own  ideas. 

Constance  had  lonj;  a^o  given  up  all  hop*-  that  her 
hushand  w«)uld  ever  retnemlxr  any  of  their  aiuiiversaries. 
Their  wedding  day  came  and  went  unnoticed.  If  he 
thought  of  it  a  week  later,  or  of  her  hirthdax  a  month 
after  it  was  past,  he  bought  a  Inlated  present,  always 
a  little  more  expensive  than  he  c  luld  rightlv  afford  at 
the  moment.  His  deep  regard  for  her  was  thus  easy 
iO  demonstrate  with  a  pencil  and  a  hit  of  paper:  deeds 
speak  louder  than  words— sometimes.  Ho  would  do 
anything  in  the  world  for  his  wife,  except  take  a  day  ofT 
from  his  business ;  but  then  the  business  was  all  for'  her. 
and  so  it  came  to  the  same  thing,  as  she  would  have  seen 
if  she  had  been  deft  at  mathemaiics. 

It  therefore  filled  her  with  surprise  when  on  her  birth- 
day he  came  to  the  hotel  (piite  unexpectedlv,  and  an- 
nounced thri-  in  honour  of  the  eveni  thev  would  tike  a 
dri .  together ;  he  had  a  carnage  and  pair  waiting  at  the 
front.  Constance  went  with  him.  and  thev  drove  up  the 
avenue,  around  the  park  for  a  while,  and  out  again,  and 
so  to  the  ijew  residence. 

"  Let's  go  in  here,  Constance,"  he  said  in  an  offhand 
way. 

"  Oh,  no,  please.    I  don't  want  to  visit  any  one  to-dav." 

"Come  along.  Connie.  You'll  hke  the' folks  in  this 
house.    They're  good  people." 

"Indeed,  Ben.  I'd  rather  not.  I'm  not  <lressed  for 
calling.     I  thought  you  were  just  going  for  a  drive." 

Ben  laughed  good-naturedly.  1  (c  was  accustomed  to 
implicit  obedience  from  every  one ;  it  was  a  matter  of 
course;  and  he  exacted  it  much  more  ruthlessly  than  he 
had  any  idea  of,  brushing  aside  the  prejudices  or  objec- 
tions of  others  as  if  he.  of  necessity,  must  know  best,  but 
he  did  it  all  with  an  intention  so  evidently  kindhearted 
that  he  seldom  met  contradiction.  Before  Constance 
could  make  further  protest  he  was  out  of  the  carriage 
holding  forth  his  hand  to  assist  her.  She,  partly  from 
the  habit  of  assenting  to  anything  he  proposed,  partly 
fearmg  that   the   good   people   inside  to  whom  he  had 


476 


The  Victors 


referred  might  be  witnessing  her  hesitation,  descended, 
and  together  they  went  up  the  steps.  The  door  was 
flung  open  before  he  could  ring,  and  they  walked  into 
the  mansion  side  by  side.  The  entrance  hall  was  in  it- 
self an  apartment  of  magnitude,  the  comparatively  low 
timbered  ceiling  seeming  to  increase  its  actual  area. 

A  chimney  stood  like  a  huge  pillar  of  brick  in  the 
centre,  with  a  fireplace  on  either  side;  one  opposite  the 
front  door,  the  other  facing  the  rear  of  the  room. 

Ben  led  his  wife  to  the  drawing-room  at  the  right,  and 
she  wondered  why  the  uniformed  servant  who  opened 
the  door  did  not  direct  them. 

"  There,  Connie,  what  do  you  think  of  this  place  ?  The 
paintings  alone  cost — "  ^^ 

••  Hush,  Ben,"  she  whispered,  "  don't  speak  so  loud.' 

"Why?" 

"  Because  the  hostess  may  hear  you." 

"  Hostess?    The  hostess  (loes  hear  me." 

"  Well,  then,  all  the  more  reason — " 

"  The  hostess  is  in  this  room,  Connie." 

Mrs.  McAllister  looked  at  him,  an  added  pallor  coming 
to  her  pale  face. 

"  What  do  you  mean,  Ben  ?  " 

"  This  house  is  yours." 

"  Have  you  rented  it?  " 

"  Not  likely." 

"  You  haven't  bought  it,  surely?  " 

"  Bought  it  ?     Xot  by  a  long  shot.     I  built  it." 

For  a  moment  she  swayed  slightlv  and  put  her  hand 
against  the  artistic  mantelpiece  to  steady  herself.  Ihr 
eves  closed  and  she  seemed  scarcely  to  breathe,  looking 
almost  as  if  she  had  been  one  of  the  marble  figures  that 
had  been  purchased  for  him  in  Italy.  McAllister 
chuckled  as  he  saw  these  signs  of  suppressed  emotion,  a 
broad  grin  brightenin.T  his  face;  the  surprise  had  been 
complete,  almost  overpowering. 

"  Come  along,  Connie,  and  I'll  show  you  the  house. 
I  tell  you  what  it  is,  girl,  the  architects  of  our  day  beat 
the  world.  There  is  an  individuality  about  their  work 
that  is  admirable  and  distinctive.     I've  been  more  than 


-r-__-j— ™r-.o-«ar^a— BBflMPllf—r' 


"  I  am  come  to  fetch  you  home  "      477 

pleased  with  what  this  man  has  done  for  me  The  only 
thmg  we  quarrelled  about  was  an  elevator.  I  wanted 
an  elevator  facing  the  door  where  that  chimney  is  He 
wouldn't  have  it;  said  he'd  chuck  up  the  job  if  1  insisted 
so  I  gave  way  to  him.  Lut  I  got  the  better  of  him  on 
telephones.  I  told  him  I  had  to  have  a  telephone  in 
every  room,  so  that  I  shouldn't  need  to  run  down  to  the 
hall  each  time  the  Central  rung  me  up.  He  didn't  like 
that  idea  a  little  bit,  but  when  he  saw  I  was  determined 
he  sat  up  nights  sch.eming  concealments  for  them.  Now, 
Connie,-  111  bet  you  a  new  hat  you  can't  find  the  tele- 
phone in  this  room." 

The  lady  looked  about  her.  and,  discovering  no  signs 
of  the  instrument,  shook  her  head. 

You've  lost  the  hat.  Why,  it's  in  that  writing  desk. 
You  lift  the  lid,  which  automatically  rings  up  the  Central, 
and  there  you  are.  You  close  the  lid,  which  rings  off,' 
and  then  you  have  a  writing  desk  again.  I  tell  vou  what 
It  is,  Connie,  I'm  going  to  have  a  telephone  rigged  up 
on  the  dining  table,  so  I  can  talk  to  the  office' without 
leavmg  my  chair;  wire  concealed  in  the  leg  of  the  table.'' 

Constance  followed  him  from  suite  to  suite,  from 
room  to  room.  It  was  all  admirable,  luxurious  and  con- 
venient to  the  last  degree ;  marble,  silver  fittings,  auto- 
matic devices,  rare  natural  woods,  everything  complete 
to  the  most  minute  detail. 

"  Well,  Connie,  what  do  vou  think  of  it?  Wonderful, 
isn't  it?" 

"  It's  more  than  vvonderful." 

"  I  knew  you  would  say  that.  Yes,  Con,  there's 
nothing  of  the  log  cabin  about  this  place.  Well,  I'i!  just 
cut  down  to  the  hotel  and  toll  them  to  send  uj)  all  our 
things.  I  must  skip  now."  lie  glanced  at  his  watch. 
"Gee  whiz!  I've  lost  two  hours  and  a  quarter!  Don  t 
matter;  it's  all  in  a  lifetime.  Ta.  ta,  Om.  If  you  don't 
see  what  you  want,  ring  for  it.  I  mav  be  home  late; 
don't  wait  up." 

The  Alladin  of  the  Wonderful  Lamp  was  gone,  but 
the  Falace  remained. 

As  McAllister  had  predicted,   he  v/as  late  in   srettinff 


fnti 


II 


478 


The  Victors 


home  that  night;  the  two  hours  and  a  quarter  lost  on 
his  wife's  birthday  took  a  good  deal  of  catching  up, 
which  shows  the  necessity  of  seizing  the  flying  moment 
while  it  is  on  the  wing.  lie  was  even  later  than  he 
intended,  because  he  forgot  all  about  the  new  house  and 
went  direct  to  the  hotel.  The  elevator  man  said  in  sur- 
prise : 

"  Why,  Mr.  McAllister,  I  thought  vou  moved  out  to- 
day." 

"  Gee  smoke !  So  I  did.  No,  I  won't  go  up  with  you. 
I'll  go  up  the  avenue  instead." 

He  hailed  a  cab,  and  wondered  for  a  moment  if  the 
new  house  would  be  as  handy  as  the  hotel,  after  all. 

A  very  thin  latch-key  opened  the  vcrv  thick  door,  and 
I.IcAllister  stood  in  hi's  own  hall.  He  laughed  quietly 
to  himself  as  he  remembered  that  in  his  hurry  to  be  gone 
he  had  not  indicated  to  his  wife  the  suite  of  rooms  they 
were  to  occupy,  and  h.e  wondered  now  which  she  had 
chosen.  He  would  soon  discover.  Each  door,  a  triumph 
of  mechanism,  opened  noiselessly  to  his  touch,  lighting 
an  electric  cluster  as  it  swung,  a  silent  torch-bearer  to  his 
progress.  As  he  advanced  from  one  untenanted  cham- 
ber to  another,  the  stillness  of  the  house  began  to  impress 
him  with  a  feeling  of  strange  loneliness.  The  indefin- 
able spirit  of  human  presence  had  not  yet  permeated  this 
newly  created  body ;  the  house  was  still  an  architectural 
Galatea,  lacking  life's  liqht  zephyr.  The  hand  of  caprice 
had  moved  no  article  of  furniture  since  the  man  from  the 
warehouse  had  placed  it  with  calculated  precision.  The 
rooms  retained  the  st  ness  of  the  show  window,  want'iiy 
only  the  list  price  in  ])lain  figures  on  a  broad  white  can!. 

At  last  on  an  empty  bed  his  eye  caught  a  contrast  ct 
colour;  a  black  silk  handkerchief  was  spread  on  tin 
snowy  counterpane,  and  a  square  white  envelope  lay  mi 
the  silk,  black  on  white,  white  on  black,  an  admirable  ar- 
rangement for  attracting  attention ;  and  thus  he  regardul 
it,  forgetting  that  in  his  poverty  days  he  had  given  iliai 
handkerchief  to  the  girl  he  was  to  marry,  a  costlier  gitt 
than  the  house,  for  its  purchase  nearly  bankrupted  liis 
resources.    Now  house  and  handkerchief  were  his  again. 


"  I  am  come  to  fetch  you  home  "      479 

McAllister  snatched  up  the  envelope  a.ldresscd  to  him 
and  tore  it  open.  The  enclosed  letter  was  very  lon^  he 
noticed  that,  and  in  spite  of  his  increasing  va-ue  un- 
easiness there  flashed  across  his  brain  that  feelin^-  of  an- 
noyance which  always  came  to  him  when  he  wSs  com- 
pelled to  read  a  communication  that  was  not  typewritten 
He  sat  c  own  on  the  edge  of  the  yacant  bed,  tlie  soft  rays 
of  the  electric  light  subdued  through  opaline  glass  illu- 
mining the  numerous  closely  written  pages. 

Dear  Bkn— What  a  testimony  it  is  to  the  completeness 
of  this  house  that  I  find  here  in  my  need  the  very  ink 
pen  and  pap.  with  which  to  write  to  you.  and  that 
without  even  the  necessity  of  ringing,  as  vou  suggested, 
hach  sheet  has  the  street  and  number  engraved  on  it  in 
.1  the  style  I  should  have  chosen  if  I  had  had  the 
sc.ecting  of  It. 

You  may  well  be  proud  of  your  achievement,  for  into 
this  mansion  must  have  gone  much  of  that  marvellous 
power  which  you  possess— the  power  of  carrying  on  to 
success  any  project  you  make  up  your  mind'to  accom- 
plish. But  I  could  not  help  thinking  as  I  followed  you 
through  these  rooms  to-day  that  if  this  house  is  a  monu- 
ment to  your  business  ability  it  is  also  typical  of  our 
married  life,  for  there  is  not  within  its  extensive  compass 
one  article  of  furniture,  one  book,  one  picture,  no.  not 
even  a  shelf  in  a  china  closet,  of  which  I  could  say,  "  I 
have  had  that  put  in,  not  because  it  is  artisti  or  of  the 
newest  design,  or  expensive,  but  simply  because  I  wanted 
It  so.  (  Good  gracious,  ts  the  zconian  jealous  of  her 
oxi'n  house?  ")  ' 

You  will  have  guessed  before  you  read  this  far  that 
1  am  writing  you  a  farewell  letter— that  I  am  leaving 
you— deserting— that  is  the  word,  and  what  a  treach- 
erous,  repulsive  sound   it  has! 

("Merciful  God!  She  can't  mean  that!  What  have 
I  doner     What  have  I  left  un—") 

But  I  think  we  have  both  reason  to  be  thankful  that 
matters  are  no  worse  between  us.  for  I  assure  you.  Ben, 
little  as  you  ever  suspected  it.  there  were  times  in  the 


■i^jj^^iiip^if^fflsss^arstn-'j. 


48o 


The  Victors 


early  days  when  my  despair  led  me  to  the  brink  of  leav- 
ing not  only  you,  but  all  the  world  beside. 

("  IVcIl,  of  aii  ainacini:;—lVlwt  have  /  done?") 

Ben,  why,  why,  why,  did  you  ever  marry  me?  T'm 
not  the  kind  of  woman  you  needed.  How  often  and 
often  I  have  asked  myself  what  fatality  led  you  to 
choose  me,  and  I  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  it  was 
because  you  knew  no  other;  that  you  made  the  mistake 
so  many  men  make  of  marrying  too  young,  before  they 
know  their  own  minds. 

I  have  seen  the  lady  who  should  have  been  your  wife; 
have  watched  her  drive  in  the  park — have  met  her  walk- 
ing up  the  avenue. 

("  That's  it!  I  might  have  kuoicn  there  7i'as  a  zvoman 
at  the  bottom  of  this.  Me,  of  all  men!  Oh,  Connie, 
Connie — ") 

There  are  hundreds  of  them  in  this  pride-ridden  city ; 
the  wives  of  successful  business  men.  advertising  the 
riches  of  their  husbands  by  the  clothes  they  wear ;  by  the 
equipages  thev  drive  in. 

("  Oh,  it's  'not  that  then.") 

You  should  have  a  wife  who  would  dress  superbly; 
who  would  never  wear  the  same  gown  twice;  a  woman 
of  whom  men  would  say,  "  How  much  money  her 
husband  must  make  to  be  able  to  deck  her  out  in  such 
jewels ;  "  a  modiste's  model  and  as  soulless ;  who  valued 
a  kind  word  not  at  all,  and  a  cheque  only  for  the  figures 
written  upon  it ;  in  short,  a  woman  with  no  heart  to  ache 
at  a  husband's  neglect. 

("  Ne(:;lect!     As  if  I  hadn't  slaved  and — ") 

"  Ring  for  what  you  want,"  said  you  as  you  rushed 
awav  to  overtake  your  lost  two  hours.  There  isn't  a 
wire  in  th's  grand  house  that  could  carry  my  message- 
there  isn't  a  servant  but  would  think  mc  demented  if  I 
said,  "  I  want  my  husband,  and  I  want  him  only."  Al 
though  I  felt  myself  hardening  and  hardening  as  the 
companionlcss  vears  went  by,  there  was  aUvays  a  linger- 
ing hope  that  you  would  say  at  last,  "  Now  I  have  a  day. 
a  week,  to  '^pend  with  you."  As  your  incnme  increased 
and  increased,  so  grew  the  desire  to  add  still  more  to  it. 


"  I  am  come  to  tctch  you  home  "      481 

Never  will  the  hucje  establishment  on  Sixth  Avenue  be 
large  enough  to  contain  your  ambitions.  1  saw  that  at 
last,  and  when  hope  died  I  made  my  prejiarations  for 
leaving  you.  You  will  lose  two  hours  no  more  on  my 
account. 

("  Hoiv  she  harps  on  that.  It  7i'as  two  hours  and  a 
quarter.  IVords  CiVrylhint^ ;  actons  nothini^,  in  a 
Zi'otnan's  estimation.'' ) 

I  had  made  complete  preparation  for  mv  departure 
when  you  came  in  so  unexpectedly  and  projjoscd  a  drive 
in  the  park.  My  heart  almost  stopped.  Could  it  be  pos- 
sible that  God  had  led  me  to  this  resolution,  only  to  show 
me  how  mistaken  I  had  been  in  my  estimate  of  vou?  .\ 
'•■ive  through  the  park  in  the  middle  of  a  business  day ! 
iwo  hours  expended  on  me!     Incredible! 

("  Curse  those  tivo  hours!  I  wish  I  hadn't  mentioned 
them.") 

I  was  nearly  speechless  between  hope  and  fear,  but 
I  soon  saw  that  you  did  not  notice  my  agitation.  Your 
effigy  sat  beside  me  in  the  carriage,  but  your  mind  had 
never  left  Sixth  Avenue.  Lines  of  preoccui)ation  were 
on  your  brow,  dial-marks  of  minutes  being  lost.  You 
saw  nothing  of  the  park,  with  its  imitation  lakes,  its  imi- 
tation hills  and  dales,  its  imitation  vistas,  bogus  from 
gate  to  gate ;  no  wonder  New  York  is  proud  of  it ; 
scenery  built  to  scale;  its  motto,  "  Keep  otT  tlu'  grass." 
And  as  I  sat  as  silent  as  yourself,  I  read  your  life  I)y  the 
lines  on  your  brow  as  a  gipsy  reads  the  palm.  T  saw  you 
old  before  your  time ;  all  faculty  for  any  rational  enjoy- 
ment of  life  burned  awav  before  you  wtr<'  middle-aged ; 
rich  without  a  healthful  nerve  left  in  your  iiody ;  a  man 
who  had  rushed  to  the  bank-counter  of  bis  Maker  de- 
manding that  his  life  be  discounted  and  paid  cash  down 
instantly ;  willing,  eager  to  sacrifice  twenty,  thirty,  forty 
years  of  it,  for  ten  condensed  years,  now.  on  the  nail. 
Then  the  final  settlement,  catching  you  doubtless  at  the 
busiest  time,  stricken  dead  at  your  telephone. 

("  IVheiv!  I  had  no  idea  Connie  could  zcritc  like 
that!     Hoiv  a  ivov -n  cvatziicratcs!     Unfair  t'^o — ") 

The  galvanise         mscitation     .'  hope  was  past;   its 

31 


.•?W«ia?.i|W-*-  -JM^-iaQ^WMM»3 


482 


The  Victors 


ghost  trou!>lecl  mc  no  mure  until  we  came  to  the  new 
house  and  found  ourselves  within  it.  When  you  told  me 
it  was  mine  I  nearly  swooned.  Here  at  least  was  the 
semblance  of  a  home;  a  much  more  humble  one  would 
have  contented  mo  if  my  husband  liad  said,  "  Constance, 
I  have  made  enough,  This  is  the  culmination  of  my  ef- 
forts. Here  we  will  live  together  and  grow  old  together. 
You  shall  deck  it  forth  to  please  you,  and  I  shall  be  at 
your  side  while  you  are  doing  it.  We  will  let  others 
look  after  the  wants  of  the  public ;  we  shall  attend  to  our 
own." 

("  Merciful  Heaven,  how  little  she  knows  of  the  needs 
of  a  great  business!    Others!  !  !  ") 

But  no.  It  was  "  Con,  I  have  lost  two  hours.  Don't 
wait  up  for  me."  The  building  of  the  house  marked  no 
change  in  the  living  of  our  lives.  I  realised  that  nothing 
but  the  building  of  a  tomb  and  the  occupying  of  it  could 
do  that.  No  gravestone,  even  in  this  age,  bears  the  epi- 
taph "  Sacred  to  t'  e  memory  of  Ten  Alillions,"  with  the 
dollar  mark  in  place  of  the  cross,  yet  that  is  the  sort  of 
memorial  so  many  seem  to  be  working  for.  I  have  no 
such  ambition,  and  so  I  quit  the  turmoil.  I  did  not  de- 
sert you  while  you  were  struggling,  for  I  could  not  bear 
to  add  another  straw  to  the  burden  you  carried  for  so 
many  years,  and  I  knew  that,  little  as  I  was  able  to  do  for 
you,  my  going  away  would  have  caused  you  trouble  and 
worry.  Now  it  is  different.  You  have  the  income  of  a 
prince,  and  if  you  search  for  me,  which  I  beg  of  you  not 
to  do,  it  will  merely  mean  the  drawing  of  a  cheque  and 
the  obtaining  of  the  best  detective  aid  that  money  can 
procure.  You  have  tew  friends  who  will  be  scandalised 
by  my  action,  and  I  have  none,  but  as  you  would  be  an- 
noyed by  columns  of  newspaper  conjecture,  I  advise  you 
to  say  nothing  of  my  departure,  and  above  all  not  to 
employ  detectives.  What  is  done  c(mcerns  only  you  and 
me,  and  I  assure  \<.d  that  publicity  will  injure  your  busi- 
ness. 

("  She  thinks  this  is  the  one  arguuient  that  will  appeal 
to  me,  yet  I  would — ") 

The  law  will  lightly  relieve  you  of  the  bonds  yoq  so 


•'■^^.mm--L  'm:2^m'mk%s's^mmf"^ 


"  I  am  come  to  fetch  you  home  "      483 

foolishly  assumed  before  you  were  aware  of  the  prizes 
the  world  had  in  store  for  you.  I  know  that  a  good 
woman  would  have  sat  down  in  one  of  those  luxurious 
chairs  and  wept  before  taking  such  a  step  a"  I  am  about 
to  take,  but  I  assure  you  I  leave  this  house  as  dry-eyed  as 
I  entered  it.  I  seem  to  have  passed  the  weeping  stage. 
I  think  the  Midas  touch  of  New  York  is  already  metalis- 
ing  my  heart,  but  I  hope  I  flee  from  it  in  time. 

Constance. 

McAllister  had  dropped  sheet  after  sheet  on  the  floor 
as  he  read ;  now  he  picked  them  up  one  by  one  and  laid 
them  on  the  empty  bed.  lie  walked  slowly  up  and  down 
the  room  with  bowed  head,  the  weight  of  years  on  his 
bent  shoulders ;  then  as  if  newly  feeling  his  burden  he 
sat  down  on  a  soft  armchair  whose  rich  upholstery  sank 
under  him.  Here  he  remained  marking  thoughts  oft' 
on  his  fingers.  Now  and  then  his  brow  wrinkled  upward 
and  he  whistled  low  and  tunelessly,  for  he  had  no  ear  for 
music.  The  electric  lights  i-eemed  to  become  dim.  and 
grey  day  began  to  compete  through  the  pane.  He  no- 
ticed nothing  until  I'.e  was  startled  l)y  a  subdued  raj)  on 
the  door. 

"  Come  in,"  he  shouted,  not  knowing  where  he  was. 

A  servant  stood  in  the  doorway. 

"  What  time  would  you  like  breakfast,  sir?  '' 

"  Breakfast?  Oh,  yes,  breakfast.  Why,  I  don't  know. 
What  time  do  we  usually  have  it  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,  sir.  Mrs.  McAllister  said  you  would 
want  to  be  at  the  office  by  eight." 

"  Oh,  yes,  of  course.  Quite  right,  quite  right.  Well, 
any  time  you're  ready  I  am." 

"  Thank  you,  sir." 

"  Here,  I  say !  Hold  on  a  moment  For  one,  you 
know.  Mrs.  McAllister — well,  she's  staying  with  friends 
— not  ready  for  her  just  vet — house  too  new." 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  And,  say !  Tell  the  cook  to  make  me  some  strong 
coffee.    Strong  and  black,  vou  know." 

"  Yes,  sir." 


w^m.^msammK*^v- 


7  .>:^.&^m  IhK^iK 


\ 


1 


CHAPTER    II 

"despatch  all  business  and  uegone 

Faith  is  a  good  stimulant,  but  a  man  may  have  too 
much  of  it,  and  then  it  becomes  a  heavy  bhnd.ng 
draught,  obscuring  the  vision  and  dimmmg  the  breakers 
ahead.  There  was  one  factor  in  business  hte  of  which 
McAllister  took  no  account,  and  that  was  the  ever-recur- 
ring commercial  panic.  He  thought  that  if  he  built  his 
house  upon  a  rock  that  house  would  endure,  once  he  got 
the  roof  on.  His  trading  had  become  so  remunerative 
that  there  seemed  no  reason  why  it  should  not  continue 
so,  as  long  as  he  had  the  health  and  strength  to  direct  it. 
The  very  size  of  his  enterprise  was  in  its  favour,  for  ts 
momentum  and  weight  crushed  obstacles  that  would  have 
baffled  or  stopped  a  smaller  concern ;  but  he  forgot  that 
the  bigger  the  barn  the  more  surface  it  exposes  to  the 
wind  when  a  cyclone  comes. 

It  would  be  interesting  to  know  how  many  men  ha-o 
been  ruined  bv  building  a  house  several  sizes  too  larsc 
for  them ;  how  many  men  have  been  dashed  on  the  rock^ 
by  the  breaking  wave  of  prosperity  on  which  they  had 
so  buovantlv  floated.  McAlHster's  mansion  had  been 
completed  in  the  last  year  of  a  feverishly  speculat.vr 
period.  Everybody  was  building  something;  railways, 
sky-reaching  business  blocks,  towns  and  what  not. 
Material  of  all  kinds  was  at  its  dearest  point ;  labour  wa. 
expensive  and  scarce,  the  very  rock  which  had  born 
blasted  for  its  cellars  had  cost  more  than  if  it  had  been 
gold-bearing  quartz.  Yet  when  the  building  was  ncar.y 
finished  he  could  have  sold  house  and  lot  for  fifty  P'^r 
cent,  more  than  he  had  expended  on  them. 

A  year  later  he   could  hardly    have    given  the   place 
away,  and  as  for  selling  it,  people  would  hav    ^hougiu 

484 


J-wMtaCj^^-isafl"*  •*«.'■"  --^ial 


"  Despatch  all  business  and  begone  "     485 

him  mad  ior  ontcrtainincr  siicli  an  idea.  The  [jnijcct  had 
involved  much  ,t;rcatcT  outlay  than  even  he  had  antici- 
pated at  the  outset,  lie  liad  drawn  lieavily  on  the  re- 
source.-i  of  liis  firm;  there  was  no  one  to  ohject  except 
Monro,  and  he  had  some  hesitation  in  makintj  any  ef- 
fective protest.  After  all  Mc.Mhster  was  the  founder  of 
that  great  m.mey-makin.t^  institution,  and  now  owned 
enough  of  it  to  do  practically  wliat  he  pleased,  although 
in  a  strictly  legal  .sense  the  minority  shareholders  might 
have  invoked  protection  ;  hut  the  taking  of  such  a  step 
vya.s  never  actually  considered  by  Monro,  who  contented 
himself  with  dropping  a  hint  now  and  then  that  his  friend 
was  somewhat  lavish  in  his  expectations  from  the  busi- 
ness. P.ut  the  answer  to  that  was  the  undoubted  growth 
of  income,  and  the  uidikelihood  of  this  growth  being  ar- 
rested for  some  years. 

A  cyclone  advances  suddenly,  after  great  heat  and  out 
of  a  clear  sky.  When  the  whirling  cloud  appears  there 
is  no  time  to  do  anything  but  tly  to  the  cellar.  If  the 
cellar  is  not  dug  there  is  little  use  then  in  running  for  a 
spade. 

The  mansion  was  nearly  finished  when  a  great  bank- 
ing house  with  extensive  ramifications  in  the  West  failed 
unexjiectcdly.  The  newspapers  made  some  pretense 
that  this  failure  had  been  anticipated;  those  behind  the 
scenes  were  cognisant  of  the  state  of  aflfairs;  the  banking 
firm  had  liecomo  involved  through  a  reckless  backing  of 
railways  which  were  being  built  where  waggon  roacN 
would  have  sufficed  for  years  to  come.  Tlie  failure 
would  have  no  effect  on  the  market.  It  had  been  dis- 
counted. 

P>ut  as  a  great  oak  in  the  forest  brings  down  lesser 
trees  in  its  fall,  the  collapse  of  the  bank  had  crushed 
houses  in  Chicago,  San  Francisco  and  elsewhere.  A  cold 
shiver  ran  up  the  financial  backbone  of  the  country.  It 
seemed  as  if  some  imp  of  mischief  had  waved  a  wand 
over  the  land,  and  all  ready  cash  had  disappeared.  Re- 
sources in  plenty,  securities  in  plentv,  hut  no  money. 

McAllister  met  the  situation  with  a  smiling  face. 
Everything  would  be  all  right.     The  man  on  the  knoll, 


486 


Tlic  Victors 


UP  to  the  knees  in  water,  who.  unlike  the  Maclean,  hadn  t 
••a  boat  o'  his  ain."  told  Noah  that  it  was  onlv  ROing  tO 
be  a  shower  anyhow.  So  McAllister,  cheerful  m  the 
downpour,  insisted  he  wasn't  setting  wet. 

•'You  see.  Jimmy,  people  have  got  to  buy  certain 
things,  whether  times  are  hard  or  not.  and  we  ve  got 
these  certain  things  to  sell.  We  do  a  cash  busmcss  jnd 
consequently  have  no  bad  debts.  It  is  credit  causes  thc=ie 
panics ;  credit  and  a  sudden  loss  of  confidence. 

"  All  that  is  true  enough,  still  people  buy  less,  ami  buy 
m'^'e  cheaply.  Our  receipts  have  fallen  off  a  good  many 
thousands  this  month  as  compared  with  the  same  month 
last  vear,  and  they  are  going  steaddy  dovvn. 

"  Well  that's  easilv  met.  Shorten  sad  m  a  gale. 
We'll  have  to  die  »«.arge  some  of  our  employees,  but  not 
any  oi  the  marrici  men.  Jimmy,  if  you  can  help  it.  Cut 
down  salaries.  Take  ten  thousand  off  mme ;  slice  the 
wages  of  evervbody  else,  at  a  rate  of  half  that  percent- 
age We're  all  in  the  same  boat,  and  the  crew  can  t 
growl  if  their  -ations  are  diminished  only  half  as  much  as 
the  captains." 

Monro  smiled.  .        „. 

"  The  men  may  not  be  as  familiar  with  perceritage  as 
vou  are,  Ben.  If  thev  knew  you  had  twenty  thousand 
dollars  a  year  left,  they  might  not  see  any  consolation  m 
the  percentage  shaved  off  their  own  limited  pay.  How- 
ever, we'll  have  to  do  it.  I  don't  believe  this  storm  .s 
eoing  to  blow  over  as  quickly  as  you  think. 

On  the  evening  of  the  day  that  McAllister  moved  mto 
his  new  house,  he  and  Monro  sat  late  together  question- 
ing columns  of  figures;  discussing  what  was  to  be  done 
in  the  future.  They  walked  up  the  deserted  street  to- 
gether, after  the  frequenters  of  theatres  had  gone  home 
and  Monro  thought  nothing  of  the  matter  when  his  friem 
bade  him  good-night  at  the  steps  of  the  hotel,  ^or Jie.  t<v). 
had  forgotten  the  existence  of  that  monumental  follv 
further  up-town.  , 

Next  morning  McAllister  did  not  appear,  and  townn. 
noon  Monro  telephoned  to  the  hotel,  but  they  knew  noth- 
ing of  him,  and  to  the  house,  but  its  -merous  telephones 


w^-2^'^rm^mr::i..w  ■i^^SKf.wcz'./'/^^ , 


•'  Despatch  all  business  ami  be^'one"      487 

were  silent;  the  (Vntral  could  ^ct  no  rcpl  Id  its  call. 
Monro,  fcarinj^'  soinclhinj,'  was  wrong,  wciif  up  to  the 
mansi',ii,  Init  no  one  answcrt-d  the  door,  and  an  ohlij^dnj; 
|K)licenian  informed  him  that  the  servant;,  had  all  left  in 
I  he  early  part  of  the  day.  loiter  a  man  with  a  valise  ha<l 
}.:one  otf  in  a  cah,  hut  that  was  all  the  policeman  km-w. 
and  with  this  Monn)  had  to  he  content.  There  was  nuth- 
inj:j  further  he  could  do. 

The  fdlowinj;  day  his  an.viety  was  in  part  relieved  hy 
tile  rece-'pt  of  a  hurried  note  written  hy  Mc.Mlister  on  a 
westward-hound  train,  lie  was  K''^i"R  to  take  a  rest,  he 
said.  Jim  must  do  the  hest  he  could  durinj::  his  ahsence. 
lie  had  thoi:>j:ht  over  the  suhjecf  they  discussed  the  nij;ht 
hefore.  and  tlie  otily  practical  ^^uf;,l;cstion  he  could  make 
was  to  sell  the  new  house.  Schmittclmyer.  of  <he  firm  of 
Schmittelmyer  &  Eikslein.  had  otYered  tifty  per  cent,  more 
than  it  cost.  Would  Jim  fjo  to  him  at  once  and  make  a 
deal?  The  paDcrs  were  all  in  the  safe,  and  he  had  full 
power  to  transact  husiness.  Sell  the  furniture  or  store  it. 
'Make  the  hest  harp;ain  he  could;  tlie  Jew  had  plenty  o*' 
money;  but  sell  in  any  case,  even  if  much  below  cost. 
Mrs.  McAllister  did  not  like  the  arrantjement  of  the 
house,  so  he  would  have  parted  with  it  whether  they 
needed  the  money  or  not.  Jim  was  to  apply  the  proceeds 
to  the  use  of  the  company.  He  inclo.sed  the  thin  latch- 
key and  .e:ave  an  address  in  Chicaj^o  where  a  teles^'ram 
would  find  him  within  the  next  few  davs. 

This  sudden  determination  to  take  a  holiday  did  not 
surprise  Monro,  althou'jh  he  thou«^ht  the  moment  chosen 
rather  inopportune.  However.  I'.en  was  always  doin^ 
the  unexpected.  Monro  telegraphed  to  Chicaofo.  askinjj 
his  partner  to  keep  in  touch  with  the  office  wherever  he 
was.  Then  he  sought  an  interv'ew  with  Schtnittelmycr. 
That  financier,  however,  had  chan,u:ed  his  mind,  and  no 
ofifer  which  could  be  made  would  tempt  him  to  reconsider 
his  determination.  Thus  the  visit  was  worse  than  futile, 
for  the  rumour  jjot  abroad  that  the  bij^f  firm  of  McAllis- 
ter, Monro  &  Co.  was  in  difficulties,  an  unfortunate_ 
whispe'-  to  become  current  at  a  time  when  the  stability  of 
even  old-standi.ig  hou'^.-s  was  in  doubt.    So  Monro  had 


.ifmm>^&t  Hwmtmtm ■iiiiiii 


488 


The  Victors 


his  work  cut  out  for  him.  and  lie  rcccive<l  no  assistance 
from  his  chief,  who  merely  wrote  to  murina^e  house  ami 
lot,  ami  chattel  mortKaj^e  the  furniture,  if  he  needed  to 
raise  money.  This  was  easier  said  than  d<ine  ;it  any  rate 
of  interest  less  than  usurious  and  for  any  amount  at  all 
comi)arecl  with  '.ost  price. 

McAllister  flitted  here  and  there  over  the  land,  a  veri- 
table Wanderinji  Jew,  until  Muiiro  bej^an  to  winder  what 
demon  of  unrest  had  taken  possession  of  him.  About  a 
month  after  his  departure  he  t  rned  up,  unawares,  at  the 
office.  lookinj.j  jjaunt  and  unkempt.  There  was  some- 
thing of  the  old  hilarity  left  in  his  maimer,  but  it  ranj^ 
false  to  Monro;  seemed  assumed  for  the  occasion. 

"  Well,  Jim.  ohl  man.  how's  things?" 

"  Not  as  brifjht  as  I  could  wish.  T.y  the  way,  you  are 
not  lookinR:  anv  too  well  vourself.     How  are  you?" 

"Oh,  I'm  ail  right.  I'll  be  the  better  for  a  shave. 
Haven't  seen  a  barber  for  four  days.  Anything  new.' 
Sold  the  house  yet  ?  " 

"  No.  to  both  questions." 

"The  old  ship  keeps  afloat,  eh?  That's  pood,  thr.t  s 
good.  I  just  dropped  in  to  se€  you,  but  i  must  be  away 
to-night." 

"  What,   otT   again  ?  " 

"  Yes,  '  off  again,  on  again,  gone  a.ijain.  Flanmgan. 
That's  me,  Jimmy." 

"  Why  don't  you  go  to  some  quiet  spot  and  take  a  good 
rest?  this  incessant  travelling  is  harder  on  a  man  tlian 
sticking  to  business." 

"  Well,  you  know,  a  fellow  ought  to  see  somethnig  oi 
h's  own   country.     There's  too  much  of  this   going  t' 

urope.  I  believe  a  man  should  spend  his  money  when 
he  makes  it.     I  couldn't  rest  in  a  quiet  spot  anywhere  " 

"  Talking  of  making  money.  Uen ;  we're  not  making 
any    too  much.     When    are  you    coming   back  to   take 

charge?" 

"I  don't  know.  Not  yet  awhile.  Thunder!  1 
haven  t  had  a  vacation  in  fifteen  years,  and  you're  gcttirii^ 
on  all  right  without  me." 

"  No,  I'm  not.  We  need  ^•'->n  here  every  day,  and 
never  so  much  as  within  the  last  month." 


'•  Dcspatcli  all  business  and  begone  "     489 

"  You  talk  as  if  I  were  imlispcnsablc.     I'm  not.'* 

"  I  regard  vdu  as  itiilispiiisalile."' 

"  Notisciise.  W  hat  would  you  do  if  I  were  struck 
d^ad  at  tlic  tclfplioiic?  ^'ol^d  j^ct  alonj;  without  inc.  1 
jjuess.     You'd  have  to." 

"  C'c-rtainly,  liut  tluri-'s  mnrc  dau^rr  of  your  l)cin.q[ 
sniashi-<l  up  iu  a  railway  accidviu  tlu"  way  you're  j^oiuij 

oil." 

"That's  ali  ri^ht.  1  carry  a  lot  of  iusuraucc.  .\uy- 
hody  particular  hccu  to  sic  luc  since  I've  hi  en  >jone?" 

"  A  reporter  has  heeu  hauffiu^  ahout  these  last  few 
days  in(|uirin)^  for  you." 

"  .\  reporter!  ( iood  heavens!  What  tlid  he  want?" 
cried  McAllister  hreal!ik>sly,  his  eyes  dilatiu}.?. 

"  Wanted  to  interview  you.  ' 

"Of  course,  of  course.     Uut  what  about?" 

"  lie  wants  the  views  of  noted  business  nten  on  the  de- 
pression— hopeful  views;  so  1  told  him  \ou  were  his 
man.  He  thinks  the  pul)licatit)n  of  a  series  will  have  an 
encouraj,nnja:  etTect  on  the  couiUry." 

"Oh,  the  depression,  that's  all  ri.i,dit.  It  won't  last 
lonjTf.  You  tell  him  so  next  time  he  comes.  Au'l'iing 
else?" 

"  Xo,  nothing  important.  Had  a  delegation  in  from 
our  impeccable  city  government  the  other  day.  ^'ou 
don't  need  to  ask  what  it  wanted.  It  was  after  a  ilona- 
tion  and  didn't  get  it.  The  cheek  of  that  organisation 
is  something  amazing." 

"  Why  didn't  you  tell  them  we  were  republicans?" 

"  I  did,  but  they  said  ri'publican  money  was  just  as 
good  as  any  other  these  times.  The  delegation  was  com- 
posed of  two  distinguished  citizens,  wlio  looked  as  if  they 
had  recently  been  graduated  from  behind  some  bar.  Noth- 
ing would  do  but  they  must  see  you,  although,  hearing 
you  were  West,  they  condescended  to  i\i)lain  the  mat- 
ter to  me.  I  offered  them  a  hundred  dollars,  but  they 
wouldn't  look  at  it.  The  leader  glanced  at  liis  notebook 
and  said  a  firm  like  this  ought  to  W-  good  fnr  tm  thou- 
sand dollars." 


Ten   thousand!    I'd  sec  them  in 


What  did 


you  say; 


490 


The  Victors 


"  Well,  I  told  them  that  this  wasn't  just  the  time  for 
throwing  away  lump  sums  like  that,  business  was  too 
slack ;  they  blustered  a  bit  and  threatened  a  bit,  then  took 
themselves  off." 

"  Threatened  ?    What  can  they  do  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know.  They  were  very  va^ue.  Hinted  I 
was  piling  up  trouble  for  myself.  They  were  the  kind 
of  men  who  believe  in  bluffing.  I  was  perfectly  polite 
with  thei  .,  and  merely  said  I  was  sorry  wc  were  not  in  a 
position  to  do  an)thing  lavish  jus:  now.  I  suppose  they 
can  put  us  to  some  trouble  with  this  ordinance  or  that, 
but  I  doubt  if  they  can  bother  us  ten  thousand  dollars' 
worth." 

"  I  should  think  not.  If  there  are  any  of  the  by-laws 
we're  not  keeping,  all  they  have  to  do  is  to  let  us  know 
and  we'll  reform.  Well.  Jimmy,  I  want  to  get  a  little 
cash,  and  then  I'm  off  again  like  our  friend  Flannigan." 

"  Very  good.  I  think  we  can  manage  it.  How  is 
Mrs.  McAllister?  I  hope  you  haven't  l)een  dragging  her 
all  over  the  country  with  you  ?  " 

"  Oh,  no ;  she's  all  right.  Staying  with  friends.  So 
long,  Jimmy,  I  must  go  to  get  shaved." 


*P*i 


CH  APTl, 


III 


"  DASHED  OUT   WITH   A  GRECIAN   CLUB  " 

McAllister  took  the  road  again,  and  Monro  returned 
to  his  desk.  The  day  they  spent  together  liad  deepened 
the  latter's  anxiety  regarding  his  friend.  Monro  looked 
upon  McAllister  as  a  man  upon  the  point  of  breaking 
down  from  overwork;  his  forced  hilarity;  the  wildness 
of  h's  eye,  whose  feverish  gleam  was  too  bright ;  the  im- 
possibility of  getting  him  to  concentrate  his  attention 
upon  any  one  subject  for  more  than  a  minute  )r  two  at  a 
time  ;  the  futility  of  attempting  to  interest  him  in  the  de- 
tails of  his  own  business  were  all  indications  that  some- 
thing was  wrong.  Jim  urged  him  to  remain  a  few  days 
in  town  to  consult  a  physician,  but  Mc.Mlister  laughed 
at  the  proposal.  He  was  never  more  fit  in  his  life,  he  in- 
sisted ;  this  knocking  round  the  country  agreed  w'th 
him ;  he  was  always  fond  of  travel,  but  never  had  had  an 
opportunity  of  indulging  in  it  before ;  the  business  was 
in  excellent  hands,  no  fear  on  that  score;  the  commercial 
depression  was  merely  temporary,  a  ripple  on  the  trou- 
bled waters  of  finance ;  so  it  was  "  Good-bye,  Jimmy,  old 
man;  you're  doing  first-rate,"  and  McAllister  stepped 
into  the  westward  bound  sleeping  car. 

Monro  turned  away  from  the  railway  station  with  an 
unwonted  sinking  of  the  heart  oppressed  by  a  dull 
sense  of  impending  disaster  more  ominous  even  than  the 
business  outlook. 

Several  days  after  McAllister's  departure  one  of  the 
two  delegates  who  had  formerly  waited  upon  him  came 
in  to  see  him  again.  It  was  the  man  with  the  notebook, 
the  more  truculent  of  the  pair. 

"  Has  McAllister  got  back  yet  ? "  was  his  first  ques- 
tion. 

491 


^r-^-l?; 


The  Victors 


"  He  was  in  town  about  a  week  ago,  but  has  gone  West 
again." 

"  Did  you  mention  this  Httle  matter  to  him?  " 
"  Yes ;'  he  quite  agrees  with  me  that  the  state  of  busi- 
ness is  such  we  have  to  look  very  closely  to  oui  expendi- 
tures." 

•'Oh,  that's  his  idea,  is  it?  Well,  I  suppose  you  both 
know  your  own  business  best.  We  rather  expected  him 
to  drop  in  to  see  us  and  have  a  chat  over  the  matter." 

"  He  was  in  town  for  the  day  only,  and  was  very 
busy." 

'•  A  dav  doesn't  last  long  in  Xew  York,  docs  it  ? 
That's  allright;  it's  none  of  my  funeral.  I  just  thought 
I'd  call  in  and  see,  so  that  there  would  be  no  misunder- 
standing. '  I'm  not  here  as  ofificial  collector,  you  know ; 
just  in  my  private  capacity." 

"  That  is  very  good  of  you,  but  we've  quite  made  up 
our  minds  that  we  can't  do  anything  at  the  present  mo- 
ment." 

"  I  see.  Some  future  time,  eh?  Well,  that's  all  right. 
Aly  name  is  Billy  Cudmore ;  perhaps  vou  know  who  I 
am?" 

"  No,  Mr.  Cudmore ;  I  don't  think  I  do." 
"  Well.  I'm  licence  inspector,  and,  although  I'm  here 
in  my  private  capacity,  it'll  save  me  another  trip,  and  also 
your  time,  which  is  valuable,  if  you'll  just  let  me  look  at 
your  licence  now,  so  I  can  make  a  note  of  it." 
"  Licence  for  what?  " 
"  Why,  for  selling  liquor,  of  course." 
"  Oh,  we  don't  deal  in  liquor  here." 
"Why,  how  is  tliat?  "' 

"  Weil,  we  don't  believe  in  it,  for  one  thing.  Roth 
McAllister  and  myself  are  temperance  men.  We  think 
there  are  too  many  liquor-selling  establishments  in  the 
city  as  it  is,  without  our  going  into  the  business." 

"  That's  kind  of  strange ;  I  don't  quite  understand  it. 
A  complaint  has  been  lodged  against  you  for  selling 
liquor  without  a  licence.  The  matter  was  referred  l> 
me,  of  course,  nnd  I  said  at  once  it  was  absurd ;  told  'em 
I  knew  you,  and  you  weren't  the  sort  of  people  to  do  such 


"  Dashed  out  with  a  Grecian  chib  "     493 

a  thing-  unless  you  had  the  ri.L;ht  to  do  it.  I  said  I'd 
drop  in  and  see  your  Ha  nee.  Of  curse,  it  never  struck 
me  you  hadn't  any." 

"  I  should  think  you  mi.s^ht  have  discoverrc]  that  with- 
out coming  here,  hy  simply  consultiig  your  ncords."" 

"  Of  course,  of  course.  That's  one  way.  Still,  mis- 
takes happen  now  and  then,  and  a  moment's  talk  may 
straighten  out  things." 

"  Who  made  the   complaint  ?  " 

"  Ah.  there  you  get  rather  out  of  my  department. 
Anything  in  my  line  I'm  willing  to  tell  you,  but  that — " 

"  It  doesn't  matter." 

"  I  may  say  it's  a  neighbour  of  yours,  a  saloonkeeper 
and  one  of  the  most  respectable  men  in  Xew  York.  lie 
says  his  bottle  trade  is  knocked  out  by  you  underselling 
him,  and  he  thinks  if  you  want  to  play  that  game  vou 
ought  to  take  out  a  licence,  which  lie  didn't  suppose  vou 
had,  and  I  thought  he  was  wrong.  He  says  he  doesn't 
see  why  he  should  be  compelled  to  carrv  a  licence  if  vou 
don't." 

"  It  does  seem  a  little  unfair,  but  he  overlooks  the  easily 
proven  fact  that  we  neve  '  '  a  bottle  or  a  glass  of  the 
stuff  here  since  the  place  pened." 

"  He  says  lie's  got  pr.  ..  of  the  contrary  all  right 
enough.'' 

"  I  don't  doubt  it.  I  suppose,  then,  I  may  regard  this 
as  the  opening-  of  the  campaign  for  the  ten'  thousand  ?  " 

"  Now,  look  here,  my  friend."  said  the  itispector. 
waving  his  open  hand  in  the  air  like  the  blade  of  a  scull- 
ing oar  in  the  water,  "  don't  you  make  any  mistake 
about  this.  The  two  things  have  got  nothing  to  do  with 
each  other.  We're  here  to  see  tliat  the  lav/'s  complied 
with,  that's  all.  You  prove  that  you're  all  right,  and  vou 
arc  all  right." 

■'  I  think  the  law  works  the  other  way  about ;  it's  for 
you  to  prove  that  we  are  all  wrong." 

"  Perhaps  you  know  a  lot  about  the  law,  and  perhaps 
you  don't.  Take  a  pointer  from  me  and  get  a  good  law- 
yer for  this  thing.  Now,  here's  the  card  of  a  friend  of 
mine  in  the  law  business.     It'll  pay  you  to  consult  himi 


■>6?9*«»- 


'VT  mafmitiexiivsaswjisr^^iimsky'n^v: 


The  Victors 


4 


Ml 


He  understands  the  game  and'll  see  you  through." 

"  Thanks.     I  don't  think  I'll  need  him.' 

"Well,  its  up  to  you.  You  do  just  as  you  think  fit, 
but  I'm  talking  as  a  friend,  understand?  As  one  gentle- 
man to  another.  It  won't  do  no  hurt  to  have  a  talk  with 
him." 

The  inspector  ro^ie  to  go,  leaving  the  lawyer's  card  on 
the  desk, 

"  Well,  so  long." 

"  Good-bye.  I'm  much  obliged  for  your  friendlv  in- 
tere-t."' 

"  Oh,  that's  all  right.  I  don't  want  to  see  no  man  get 
into  trouble." 

The  days  passed  without  further  sign  on  the  part  of 
the  aggressors ;  the  tiger  seemed  hesitating  before  it 
sprang.  Monro  thought  it  all  a  huge  game  of  bluff,  and 
as  time  went  by  he  forgot  about  it. 

One  lovely  morning,  which,  nevertheless,  gave  promise 
of  great  heat  later  on,  he  was  roused  at  his  desk  by  the 
inspiring  music  of  a  military  band  passing  along  the 
street.  Going  to  the  window,  he  saw  an  apparently  end- 
less procession  marching  up  the  avenue,  with  draped 
flags  flying,  and  not  one  band,  but  many. 

"  What's  all  this  about?  "  he  asked  a  clerk. 

"  Memorial  Day,  sir." 

Thus  was  a  date  in  early  summer  stamped  upon  his 
mennory,  for  that  procession,  on  its  way  to  place  wreaths 
over  the  grazes  of  some  who  had  fallen  that  liberty  might 
flourish,  tramped  across  his  brain  for  many  days  to 
come,  and  the  patriotic  music  of  the  bands  never  after- 
ward sounded  in  his  ears  without  causing  him  to  shud- 
der. 

It  was  nearly  closing  time  when  a  police  sergeant, 
accompanied  by  two  patrolmen,  entered  his  office.  He 
looked  up  in  surprise. 

"  Are  vou  Mr.  Monro  ?  "  asked  the  sergeant. 

"  Yes.-' 

"  I've  come  about  that  liquor  case.  I  believe  the  li- 
cence inspector  spoke  to  you  about  it." 

"  Yes.     Are  you  going  to  take  proceedings  ?  " 


m*::-m^'- 


"  Dashed  out  vvitli  a  Grecian  club  "     495 

"  I  believe  so,  Mr.  Monro." 

"  Very  good.     Whom  am  I  to  go  to  see  ?  " 

"  Well,  I  think  you'd  better  sec  the  captain  of  the  pre- 
cinct first." 

"  All  right.     Ill  call  on  him  to-morrow." 

"  He's  waiting  for  you  now." 

"  Very  well.     I'll  drop  round  in  a  few  minutes." 

"  I  don't  think  you  understand.  I've  got  a  warrant  for 
vour  arrest.  You  must  come  with  me  at  once,  and  I  hope 
you  11  come  quietly." 

"  Arrest?  There's  no  necessity  for  that  sort  of  action. 
I'm  here  at  any  time  I'm  wanted." 

"  We  want  you  now.  Of  course  you  understand  I'm 
simply  obeying  instructions.  You  can  have  a  cab  if  you 
like  to  pay  for  it,  and  if  you'll  give  me  your  word  as  a 
gentleman  that  you'll  go  along  quietly  I'll  dismiss  these 
men  and  we  can  go  out  together." 

"  Thank  you ;  I'll  make  no  resistance,  but  I  must  speak 
to  one  or  two  here  before  I  leave." 

"  E.xcuse  me,  Mr.  Monro.  I'm  taking  risks  in  what 
I've  offered  already.  I'll  be  obliged  if  you'll  close  your 
desk  and  come  right  along;  if  not,  I'll  have  to  take  you." 

"  Oh,  very  good ;  I'm  at  your  service." 

"  That's  sensible.  I've  got  a  cab  in  the  side  street.  I 
suppose  you'll  stand  the  racket?" 

"  Certainly." 

They  drove  together  to  the  police  station.  Monro  paid 
for  the  c"'b.  dismissed  it  and  went  inside  to  a  large  room 
where,  at  a  big  flat-topped  desk,  an  official  sat  writing. 
Several  policemen  in  uniform  were  lounging  about,  and 
a  man  in  citizen's  clothes  stood  resting  one  hand  on  the 
desk. 

Monro,  quite  accurately  taking  the  seated  official  for 
t'le  person  in  authority,  walked  up  to  the  desk,  the 
sergeant  behind  him. 

"  1  am  Monro,  of  Mc.Mlister,  Monro  &  Ox,"  he  said. 

"Oh,  are  you?"  commented  the  official,  without  look- 
ing up.  Monro  waited  in  silence  for  a  few  minutes,  but 
seeing  ilie  other  showed  no  sign  of  paying  any  attention 
to  him  he  remarked : 


MOM     'J^-m 


H 


n 


496 


The  Victors 


"  Perhaps  you  will  be  pood  enoiijjfh  to  tell  me  why  I 
am  brought  here,  and  why  it  was  necessary  to  got  out  a 
warrant  for  a  man  who  stood  ready  to  appear  whenever 
called  upon  to  do  so?  " 

"  Say,  this  is  Decoration  Day  all  right  enough,  but  we 
don't  want  any  decorated  speeches  here.  There's  a  hall 
across  the  road  for  that  scrt  of  thiig." 

The  man  in  citizen's  clothes  laughed  at  this,  as  did  also 
the  lounging  policemen. 

"  Very  well.  I'll  go  over  to  the  hall,  and  come  back 
when  you  are  less  busy,'"  replied  Mt)nro. 

"  Not  on  your  life  you  won't,"  said  the  official, 
jauntily,  shoving  back  the  papers  before  him.  "  Xo, 
sonny,  we're  ready  for  you.     Have  you  got  a  lawyer?" 

"  Xo.  I  dont  know  01  any  charges  to  meet,  or  any 
need  for  a  lawyer." 

"Oh,  you  don't,  eh?  Well,  I  guess  you  know  the 
charge  all  right  enough,  and, this  man  here  beside  me  is 
the  best  lavvyer  in  Xew  \ork  for  liquor  cases." 

"  111  choose  my  own  lawyer,  if  one  should  become 
necessary." 

"  Will,  eh?  "  said  the  official,  rising  and  coming  from 
behind  the  desk.  "  Now,  look  here,  young  man,  I'm 
going  to  give  you  some  advice  that  ymi  don't  need  to  pay 
for.  You  mustn't  come  in  here  with  any  of  your  up-town 
airs.  See?  The  Fifth  Avenue  swagger  don't  go  here. 
See?  All  men  are  equal  before  the  law,  and  vou're  no 
bigger  a  muck-a-muck  than  any  other  criminal  yanked 
in  off  the  street.     See  ?  " 

The  captain  had  advanced  truculently  step  by  step  as 
he  spoke,  drawing  back  his  right  clenched  fist  several 
times  in  a  threatening  manner,  Monro  retreating  as  the 
other  came  on. 

"  I  want  you  to  understand  that  I'm  no  criminal,  and 
furthermore  you  know  I'm  not.  Xow  if  you  will  quit 
your  blustering  and  attend  to  the  business  you  are  paid 
for  attending  to,  I'll  be  much  obliged." 

"  I'll  attend  to  it,  you ,"  cried  the  cap- 
tain, landing  a  terrific  blow  with  his  fist,  which  Monr--. 
dodging,  caught  in  the  ear.     The  sudden  onslaught  had 


lEE^p^cT^^r^^sr^TSP 


■^Eff 


■« 


"  Dashed  out  with  a  Gi Lci.in  chih  '     497 

taken  him  unprepared.  It  semied  iiKrcdihlc  that  a  tnacli- 
erous  assault  like  this  should  have  been   cont.Mnplated. 
The  door  was  wide  open  to  the  street. citizens  were  pa^s;in.!; 
and  repassing  within  hail,  any  <^ne  of  them  uu'^Ui  come 
in  at  any  moment,  and  this  was  the  centre  of  Xe\v  York, 
not  an  outlying-  district  of  Armenia.     As   Monro  stai;- 
gered  under  the  unexpect-d  stroke,  these  thout,dns  seemed 
to  dance  past  his  eyes.     Rccoverin-  himself  he  very  skil- 
fully warded  off  the  sr.cceedinj?  blow.   'Vlwn  with  a  sprin-,' 
forward  he  struck  the  captain  full  in  the  face  with  his 
clenched  fist,  and  thou.e:ht  victory  was  his  as  the  utVicial 
with  a  scream  of  pain  fell  backward  over  th.e  tlat-topped 
desk,     put  Monro  had  to  do  with  a  .gang  that  had  no 
squeamish   notions   rej^ardins?   fair   play,     lie   was   in   a 
minority  of  six  to  one.  and  the  six  were  armerl  with  re- 
volvers and  clubs,  while  he  had  no  means  (jf  defence  save 
his  bare  hands.     From  behind  he  was  proniptlv  felled  to 
hi-,  knees  by  a  well-plr.nted  blow  of  a  hcavv  baton,  the 
sickeninjT  impact  mashine  the  back  of  his  head.     As  he 
knelt  there  half-,stunned  and  dazed,  his  fiuijers  heli)lesslv 
scraning  the  dirty  floor,  tlie  captain  recoverinj,'  him.-elf, 
taking  a  sort  of  running  leap,  delivered  a  kick  in  his  ribs 
that  sent  him  prostrate:  then  the  cowardly  assailant  tried 
to  kick  him  in  the  face,  but  the  victim,  more  l»y  instinct 
than  from  any  thought  of  self-protection,  covered  it  with 
his  arms,  which  received  the  vicious  thrusts  of  th.e  cap- 
tain's stout  boots. 

"  Hold  on.  hold  on,'"  groaned  Monro,  "  I  give  up.  l'\c 
had  enough." 

"  You'll  resist  the  law,  will  you?  You'd  strike  an  offi- 
cer, would  you?    I)et  your  life,  you'll  get  enough." 

The  captain,  panting  and  red-faced,  ceased  his  exer- 
tions and  drew  a  liancl  across  his  brow,  for  it  was  a  hot 
evening. 

"  Put  him  into  Xo.   i  and  attend  to  him." 
"Here,  get  up!     (iet  on  your  feet!"  cried  one  of  the 
policemen,  kicking  him  in  the  ribs,  while  another  poked 
him  with  the  end  of  his  baton. 

Monro  raised  himself  slowly  and  v  ariiy,  still  guarding 
h  s  face.  The  sergeant  who  had  arrested  him  took  him 
by  the  arm  and  assisted  him  to  his  unsteady  feet. 

3a 


■-«?•* 


The  Victors 

Attend  to  him,"  shouted  the  captain.     "  Fan  him ; 
it's  a  hot  night." 

The  man  in  citizen's  clothes  laughed  heartily.  Some 
one  shoved  Monro  towards  an  open  door,  and  he  stag- 
gered blindly  to  the  top  of  a  short  flight  of  steps  which 
he  did  not  see.  However,  that  made  little  difference,  for 
a  kick  projected  him  clattering  down  the  stair  and 
against  a  wall  opposite.  He  heard  dimly  the  clank  of 
bolts,  and  was  again  thrust  forward.  The  warm  blood 
was  trickling  down  the  back  of  his  neck,  and  this  annoyed 
him.  There  was  another  stunning  blow  from  the  police- 
mans  club,  again  on  the  back  of  his  head. 

"  In  God's  name—"  he  sobbed,  but  the  strokes  rained 
on  him  and  he  sank  insensible  to  the  floor  of  his  cell. 
The  fanning  had  put  him  to  sleep. 

It  was  dark  when  he  partially  recovered  consciousness. 
He  found  his  open  hand  pressed  against  the  back  of  his 
head,  and  when  he  tried  to  remove  it  sharp  pains  shot 
through  his  trembling  frame.  When  a  man  is  disabled 
on  the  battle-  fleld  his  first  cry  is  for  water.  The  inevita- 
ble fever  arising  from  the  wound  demands  water.  Mon- 
ro's mouth  was  parched  and  he  moaned  for  water.  He 
got  his  hand  away  at  last,  clammy  and  sticky,  cravvled 
somehow  to  the  door  of  his  cell,  beat  forcelessly  against 
it,  groaning.  "  Water,  water." 

"What  are  you  making  such  a  fuss  about?''  came  a 
voice  through  the  grating  above  him. 
"  Water,  water." 
"  Have  yez  any  money?  " 

"  Yes,  yes — all  you  want — but — quick — water." 
"  Get  up  on  your  feet  and  pass  it  through  here." 
With    his    unglued    hand  he    painfully  searched    his 
pockets,  but  they  were  empty. 

"  Money  to-morrow — water — water." 
"Ah,  that's  no  good.  Go  to  the  devil!" 
Half  in  half  out  of  delirium  he  spent  the  waterless 
night.  Sounds  came  through  the  grating  of  his  cell  from 
the  world  outside  and  they  bothered  him.  He  heard  the 
stamping  of  many  feet  in  the  hall  opposite,  and  the  ring- 
ing of  cheers.    The  sound  waves  beat  on  his  brain  as  if 


"  Dashed  out  with  a  Grecian  chib  "    499 

the  clubs  were  at  their  work  apain.     In  the  intervals  he 
caught  fragments  of  speeches.  "  palladium  of  liberty." 
"  b'lod  shed  that  we  may  he  free."  and  he  thought  they 
weie  referring  to  his  battered  head. 
Then  blessed  oblivion  came  down  on  him  again. 


,.   .^.    JfS.' 


'^-5«fe-J|i#^r'— .Mi-" 


CHAPTER    IV 

"to   i.i.w'ic   Yor    IN    Yoru    madnkss" 


i  •? 


Si):\ir.Tinxc.  in  the  imap^e  of  a  man  had  been  kicked  and 
chil)bed  into  the  cell  tlie  nij^ht  before,  bi '  it  was  a 
wretched-looking:  creature  that  etnerjjed,  led  tottcrin.i,'. 
Any  judt,^e  would  have  been  justified,  on  his  mere  ap- 
pear'^'ice,  in  believinjjf  wliatcver  a  well-tjroomed  |)olice- 
man  said  of  him.  lie  was  taken  to  the  chief's  pri- 
vate room,  and  then-  a  basin  was  ])laced  at  his  disposal  to 
remove  some  of  the  results  of  conflict  from  his  face,  but 
instead  of  washinjr  himself  the  jiitiable  object  buried  his 
face  in  the  water  and  (h  '-  and  drank  untu  the  frij^ht- 
encd  attendant  shook  h'.w  <  ughly  by  the  shoulders,  forc- 
inij  him  to  desist. 

"  I'll — I'll  f^ive  you  the  money — the  monev  in  the 
morning-,"  he  sputtered  breathlessly,  the  water  runnin-,^ 
down  his  face.  He  shrank  timidly  from  the  sii^ht  of  the 
unifonn.  and  when  the  policeman  spoke  to  him  jerked 
his  arm  up  nervously  to  ward  off  a  blow. 

"  Mere,  scrub  yourself!  You  don't  expect  me  to  do  it. 
Pull  yourself  together.  Xo  shatnming  now.  Will  yc 
have  a  lawver  ?  '' 

"  Yes,  yes." 

"  All  right.    Ye've  some  sense  this  morning." 

The  man  in  citizen's  clothes  came  in  and  talked  a  goi  '1 
deal  and  whispered  a  good  deal,  Monro  wrinkling  li  > 
brow  trying  to  catch  the  drift  of  his  remarks,  wh'wh 
seemed  mingled  disturbingly  with  the  speeches  of  the 
night  before.  There  would  be  five  hundred  dollars  to 
pay  and  he  would  have  to  whack  up  with  the  police.  The 
prisoner  could  not  understand  who  was  to  whack  up, 
but  he  agreed  to  everything  eagerly. 

He  was  brought  before  somebody  and  there  were  a 
500 


rf'"sm^J 


"To  leave  you  in  3'our  mildness"       ^or 


numluT   of   pi'opli'   al)Oiil,      His   cyi-s    tolifjAt-d    the    littk 


y«.T.  wlio  was  very  ai-tivi-.  u  lii^iu  rinL;  licrt'  and  the 


ri- 


CllVts 


law 

Some  one  was  an  ilhcit  dialer  in  whisk\ .  The  detect 
liad  run  him  to  earth  in  a  maimer  tliat  reflected  credit  im 
somethint,'  <jr  otlier.  and  there  were  loads  of  proofs.  Ik- 
was  a^ain  shaken  hy  the  shoulders,  ami  a^mx  (|;iaileii. 
It  seemed  the  ma>,Mstrate  wanted  to  know  someihini,'  and 
he  was  e.xpected  to  answer. 


es,  ves, 


le  said 


"lias  he  been  drinkin},^  ^  "  a-ki-d  the  jmli^e. 

"  Yis.  yer  anner,"  replied  the  policeman.  "  He  was  on 
a  fearful  hat  last  nij.,dit.  Took  four  men  to  j^'et  liim  into 
the  cell.     Assaulted  them  all.  yer  "anner." 

"  Anybody  hurt  ?  " 

"  Nothing  to  speak  of,  yer  "aimer,  hut  he  f^ave  the  cap- 
tain a  nasty  rap." 

"  (  )h,  well,  we  must  make  some  allo\vatice  for  the  heat 
and  the  dav  we  celebrate.     Stand  for  trial.      Uail,  seven 


th 


ousand 


ive   lumdrcd   dollars. 


Ti 


iree   l)ondsmen. 


There  was  a  whispered  conference  between  the  court 
and  the  lawyer,  joined  in  by  tlu'  sertjeant. 

All  rij^ht,"  said  the  court  at  last.     '"  Two  ijond.>men 
en.     I'ail,   two  thousand    rtve   hundre-l." 


th 


The    lawvcr    brouiiht    the    bondsmen    forward.     Pro- 


posals 


la.le  to  which  Monrcj  ai^'reed.     It  was  won- 


derful how  smoothlv  the  wheels  of  justice  revolved  under 
the  supervision  of  this  man  of  law.  .\nd  he  was  phlan- 
ihropic  as  well. 

"  I'll  look  after  him."  he  assured  the  serL,a'aiU.  "  I've 
got  a  cab  at  the  door." 

Monr(3,  in  a  dream,  surmised  he  was  free.  The  lawyer 
got  him  into  the  cab  and  sat  bes de  iiim. 

""You  live  in  Fifty-fourth  Street?"  he  a^ked.  "The 
dircctorv  savs  you  do." 

'•  I  think  so." 

"  Have  you  got  a  cheque-book  there?  " 

"  In  the — in  the  third  drawer — >es.  that's  where  it  is." 

"  All  right  then.  We'll  be  there  in  a  jiffy.  You're 
feeling  first-rate  now  ?  " 

"  First-ratQ." 


503 


The  Victors 


"  You'll  be  better  after  a  bath  and  something;  to  eat. 
I'll  look  after  you." 

"  Tliaiik  you.' 

"(live  me  your  keys.     Which  is  the  latchkey?"* 

M(jnro  had  sijjned  some  sort  of  nveipt  and  liad  been 
given  a  bundi  of  keys,  a  pocket-book,  n  handful  of  silvir 
and  a  knife,  lie  bestowed  the  keys  upm  his  lompanion. 
and  helplessly  counted  the  bills  in  his  pwcket-book, 
which,  few  as  they  were,  jnizzlcd  him  in  an  unaccountable 
way. 

"  They're  all  right ;  they're  all  right,"  said  the  lawyer 
hastily.  "  Put  them  up.  S'ou've  enough  there  to  |)ay  the 
cab,  and  that's  all  you  need. " 

Monro  was  very  obedient  and  abandoned  his  enumera- 
tion. 

Once  inside  the  rooms  the  lawyer  was  anxious  about 
the  che(iue-book,  which  his  host  with  difficulty  discovered. 
One  cheque  for  five  hundred  dollars  was  written  for  the 
lawyer  and  another  of  like  amount  for  the  Iioudsmen. 
The  lawyer  scrutinised  the  drafts  eagerly,  and  they  were 
apparently  perfect.  In  fact  the  habit  of  drawing  a 
cheque  was  so  strong  with  Monro  that  he  might  have 
written  one  in  his  sleep  that  the  bank  would  cash.  The 
lawyer  placed  the  documents  in  his  inside  pocket  willi  a 
sigh  of  relief. 

"  Have  you  a  servant  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  I  don't  know." 

"  Is  there  a  janitor  or  any  one  about?" 

•'  I  think  there  is." 

"  Will  vou  be  all  right  if  I  leave  you?  " 

"  Yes,  yes." 

"  Do  you  want  to  see  a  doctor  ?  " 

"No." 

The  lawyer  touched  the  back  of  the  injured  head,  but 
the  wounded  man  shrank  from  him  with  a  gasp. 

"  Don't  do  that,"  he  begged  plaintively. 

"  I  don't  Hke  to  leave  you  this  way.  Will  you  have 
something  to  eat  ?  " 

"  No." 

"Will  you  have  something  to  drink?" 


"To  leave  you  in  your  tiKuliicss"      503 

"Yes.  yes."' 

The  huvviT  Iiroiijiiht  liiiii  a  plass  of  water,  which  he 
wolfed  down,  and  a>kfd  idr  another. 

"  I  think  you'd  better  take  otT  your  ekithes  and  have 
a  hatli.    It  'ud  tone  you  up.    Shall  I  turn  on  the  water?  " 

*'  Yes,   please." 

Monro  utidressed  luinself  with  difficult  v.  The  shirt 
stuck  to  his  hack,  and  ripped  off  painfully  like  an  ad- 
hesive plaster.  He  wallowed  in  the  water,  and  then  tjie 
Ciood  Samaritan  helped  to  ruh  him  down,  --oothin),^  him 
when  he  winced  as  the  towel  touched  the  e<intused  hack 
and  arms,  or  the  print  of  the  captain's  hoot  on  his  >ide. 
He  found  a  soft  dressing-j,'own  in  a  cupboard  ami 
helped  wrap  the  man  up  in  it. 

"  I'd  lie  (l(jwn  now  for  a  while  if  I  were  you  and  pet 
a  hit  of  sleep.  I'll  come  up  later  in  the  day  and  see 
how  you  arc.     Shall  I  briny-  the  police  doctor  with  me?  " 

"(),  Ciod,  no,"  muttered  Monro,  shuddermj.j  at  tli^- 
word  "  police."    "  Keep  them  away  if  you  can.  ' 

"  Oh,  you're  all  right.  You'll  be  tit  as  a  fiddle  when 
you  wake  up." 

The  oblifjin^  person  in  the  citizen's  clothes  departed, 
after  Monro  had  thrown  him^self  down  on  the  bed.  The 
wounded  man  dozed  off  constantly,  but  was  as  con- 
stantly clubbed  and  kicked  into  wakefulness,  starting  up 
and  protecting  his  face  with  his  swollen  arms,  now 
working  stiffly. 

Once  Grace  \'an  Xess  stood  by  his  bed.  and  that 
seemed  natural  and  right,  for  she  iiad  been  flitting 
through  his  disordered  brain.  But  she  was  angry  with 
him. 

"  You  will  lose  your  money."  she  said.  "  You  must 
stop  the  payment  of  that  che(|ue.  The  police  depart- 
ment is  bankrupt.  The  blood  that  has  been  shed  is 
wasted  and  the  palladium  of  liberty  is  endangered  by 
you.     Why  did  vou  do  it  ?  " 

•'  How  could  i  help  it.  Cirace?"  he  beseeched.  "  They 
were  six  to  one.  and  they  took  me  unaware.  I  fought 
till  I  was  stunned." 

He  reached  out  his  arms,  but  she  faded  away,  mock- 
ing him. 


^^ 


The  Victors 


"  I'll  have  to  explain  that  to  her.'"  he  murmured. 
"  She  doesn't  understand." 

In  the  afternoon  there  was  a  rap  at  the  door,  and  he 
thought  it  was  the  lawyer  returned,  hut  as  he  held  the 
door  slightly  ajar  he  saw  it  was  another. 

"  Mr.  llolderncss  sent  me,  sir,  to  see  if  you  were 
here." 

"  IToldcrness?     Who's  he?     The  lawyer?" 

"  Xo,  sir.  I'm  from  the  store.  Our  Mr.  Holdemess, 
sir." 

"  Oh,  yes.  Tell  him  it's  all  right.  I'll  be  down  by-and- 
by.     I  was  out  late  last  night,  tell  him."' 

He  shut  the  door  and  dressed  himself  with  scrupulous 
mechanical  care.  He  had  all  the  New  York  man's  neal 
ness  of  attire.  As  he  passed  down  the  street  no  one 
would  have  susitected  that  here  walked  a  man  whose 
reason  was  dethroned,  although  there  was  an  occasional 
unsteadiness  of  gait,  a  momentary  hesitation  at  the  street 
corners. 

"  I  didn't  get  home  till  this  morning,'"  he  said  to  Hol- 
derness  when  he  reached  the  store.  The  latter  was 
quietly  solicitous,  noting  how  white  his  chief  looked,  but 
supposed  nothing  serious  had  occurred,  and  Monro  went 
directly  to  his  room.  He  sat  at  his  desk  fingering  his  un- 
opened mail ;  the  ordinary  letters  had  been  attended  to 
long  since.  He  shuffled  the  envelopes  about  like  a  gam- 
bler stocking  a  pack  of  cards.  Then  a  glimmer  of  sense 
returning,  he  called  the  chief  clerk,  gave  him  the  bundle, 
and  said : 

"  Will  you  look  into  these,  and  act  without  bothering 
me?    I'm  not  feeling  well  to-day." 

It  was  near  closing  time  when  his  typewriter  girl  came 
in  and  asked  him  if  he  had  any  further  need  of  her. 
He  looked  up  at  the  young  woman  with  knitted  brow. 

"  I  don't  think  so,"  he  said  at  last.  *"  Stay  a  moment. 
What's  the  meaning  of  palladium  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,  sir." 

"Neither  do  I.     Haven't  you  got  a  dictionary?" 

"  Yes.  sir — a  small  one." 

"  What's  the  use  of  that  ?    You  need  a  big  dictionary 


"  To  leave  you  in  your  madness  "      505 

for  the  bipf  words  and  a  small  dictionary  for  the  small 
words,     (iet  a  bi^  dictionary  and  l(X)k  it  up,  i)lease." 

The  ti^irl  retired.  frij,ditened  at  his  ^.jhostly  face  and  his 
earnest   incoherency.     When   she  retunKcf  slie  said: 

"  It's  a  J2:reyish  metal  found  with  plaliiuun." 

"What  is?" 

"  Palladium." 

"  Nonsense.     It's  no  such  thin^." 

"  It  is  also  a  defence  or  protection." 

"  Ah.  that's  better.    That's  right,  1  guess.    Thank  you. 
Good-night." 

He  sat  there  late,  with  his  elbows  on  the  de^k,  his 
throbbing  head  in  his  hands.  W^hen  he  let  himself  out 
the  street  lamps  were  lighted,  although  the  days  were  at 
their  longest.  The  former  hesitation  at  the  street  corners 
came  back  to  him  with  increased  perplexity.  He  had  lost 
his  rooms — that  confounded  lawyer  had  t.iken  them 
away.  He  should  have  stayed  and  acted  as  their  pal- 
ladium. Still,  what  could  he  have  done— six  to  one? 
Where,  then,  could  he  go?  To  the  police  station? 
Never,  never!  Anywhere  but  there.  Perhaps  it  had 
not  been  the  lawyer  after  all.  fie  was  a  eood  fellow. 
and  had  gone  away  friendly.  Grace  might  have  done 
it.  She  had  come  there  before,  and  was  ofifended  about 
something.  That  was  it.  She  could  not  take  the  rooms 
while  he  occupied  them.  Pesides,  he  owed  her  an  ex- 
planation. How  simple  and  clear  a  situation  becomes 
vyhen  you  reason  it  out.  He  would  go  to  her.  -Many  a 
time  he  had  walked  Fifth  Avenue  on  the  chance  of  see- 
ing her.  That  was  the  solution.  He  now  strode  for- 
ward with  some  directness  up  the  avenue,  shrinking  be- 
side the  wall  and  treading  cautiously  when  he  saw  a  uni- 
form idly  twirling  its  club  at  the  edge  of  the  curb. 


CHAPTER   V 


"  MADAM,     THIS     IS     MERE     DISTRACTION  ' 

Weather  is  king  in  New  York ;  an  absolute  monarch. 
When  he  commands,  his  subjects  obey  without  question, 
"  Theirs  not  to  reason  why ;  thers  but  to  do — or  die.' 
He  sends  his  white-wreathed  janissaries  charging 
through  the  streets  and  savs,  "  This  busy  town  shall 
be  closed  for  a  few  days,'  and  the  town  is  closed  ac- 
cordingly, none  disputing  the  mandate,  for  if  any  at- 
tempt to  infringe  the  order,  he  perishes,  be  he  statesman 
or  tramp.  Death  is  the  penalty  of  disobedience  to  a  des- 
pot the  world  over.  And  the  warmth  of  his  anger  is 
no  less  fatal  than  the  cold  of  his  displeasure.  The  vic- 
tim is  struck  to  the  pavement  and  carried  into  a  drus: 
store.  A  heat-wave  dissolves  the  social  conventions: 
even  the  stiff  collar  wilts  in  its  presence.  A  millionaire 
flies  to  the  seashore  or  the  mountains  as  quxkly  as  may 
be  but  if  the  hot  blast  take  him  unaware,  coming  earlier 
than  was  expected,  he  will  sit  in  his  shirt-sleeves  cUirns 
the  evening  on  his  doorstep,  though  this  doorstep  be  tlie 
threshold  of  a  palace.  •      ,     r       i 

When  Monro  reached  the  \'an  Ness  mansion  he  fouinl 
the  steps  tenantless.  The  front  door,  however,  was  wide 
open,  but  the  entrance  was  protected  by  a  hinged  screen 
fastened  on  the  inside,  that  allowed  whatever  a:r  there 
was  to  percolate  through  the  hall,  and  kept  all  summer 
insects  outside.  The  screen  did  not  baffle  the  y(,uii|i 
man  for  an  instant;  love  laughs  at  locksmiths.  He  took 
out  his  pocket-knife,  slit  the  wire  gauze,  mserted  Ins 
hand  and  deftly  undid  the  fastening.  It  never  occurre.l 
to  him  to  ring.  A  bell  merely  brought  a  servant,  ami  le 
had  nothing  to  do  with  such ;  it  was  the  mistress  o  the 
house  he  wished  to  see.  but  he  knew  that  he  should  not 
So6 


"  Madam,  this  is  mere  distraction  "      507 

enter  a  lady's  boudoir  unannounced,  so  h"  tipto.'d  gin- 
gerly down  the  hall  and  tapped  li.<,rhtlv  at  her  door 
pleased  with  himself  that  he  was  actin.t,'  according  to  the 
requirements  of  good  society. 

"  Come  in,"  said  a  dreamy  voice. 

Only  one  shaded  electric  light  was  burning,  and  it 
filled  the  room  with  subdued  radiance.  The  fiiuntain 
plashed  ov.tside  like  the  sweet,  gentle  falling  of  rain 
trebly  melodious  on  such  a  night.  The  girl  lay  back  in 
a  reclining  chair,  the  masses  of  her  cloud  of  hair  loose 
about  her  throat  and  shoulders  and  waist,  her  hands 
clasped  at  the  back  of  her  head,  allowing  the  shower  of 
bronze  tresses  to  pour  over  them  in  a  cascade  of  chang- 
mg  colour,  away  from  the  snowv  pillar  of  her  neck. 
The  fleecy  sleeves  fell  from  the  rounded  arms,  nudelv 
goddess-modelled.  Surprise  struck  her  into  scarcely 
breathing  marble,  as  she  gazed  motionless  at  the  smiling 
man,  who  stood  there  with  his  back  to  the  closed  door. 
Without  changing  her  negligent  posture  she  whispered 
at  last:  ^ 

"  O  Mr.  Monro !  I  thought  it  was  one  of  the  serv- 
ants.    How  did  you  get  in  ?  " 

The  door  was  open,  and  I  looked  on  that  as  an  in- 
vitation ;  the  latchstring  hanging  out,  as  we  used  to  say 
)n  the  West.    Besides,  I  wanted  to  see  vou,  so  I  came  in." 

"  Won't  you  sit  down  ?  " 

Now  her  arms  dropped  to  her  sides,  and.  with  a  little 
shiver  of  the  shoulders,  she  sent  the  filmy  lace  rippling 
to  her  wrists,  covering  but  not  concealing  the  contour 
that  the  semi-transparent  fal)ric  enveloped! 

He  selected  a  wooden  chair  with  a  high-s|)indled  frame 
and  seated  himself,  sighing  in  careless  contentment,  but 
as  he  leaned  back  his  head  came  in  contact  with  tiie  cross- 
piece,  and  the  sigh  was  transformed  into  a  gasp.  A 
thread  of  pain  ran  throu:,di  him,  and  the  girl,  watching 
intently,  saw  a  spasm  of  trouble  ciiase  tlie  gladness  mo- 
mentarily from  his  face.  He  felt  agan  the  warm  oozing 
at  the  nape  of  his  neck.  and.  as  before,  it  annoved  him. 

"  I  don't  like  this  chair."  he  complained  plaintivelv. 

"  Then  take  any  other,"  said  the  girl,  rising  amazed  to 


5o8 


The  Victors 


her  feet  "That  one  is  artistic,  colonial  and  uncom- 
fortable" She  moved  an  easy  fauteuil  from  its  place 
and  his  eyes  followed  her,  happiness  o  ce  more  illu.nmg 
them.    "  Won't  you  sit  here  ?  " 

"Thank   you.      I'm   afraid    you    think   me    rather   a 

trouble?  "  ,  i-i  •  „o  " 

"  Oh  no     Do  you  find  that  more  to  your  Itktns. 
"  Everything  is  to  my  likng.  ^  It  did  not  use  to  be  so, 
but  it  is  now.     Are  you  busy?" 

"Busv,  a  night  like  this?"  she  asked  with  a  nervous 
little  laugh  in  unison  with  the  tinkling  fountam.  She 
was  in  her  reclining  chair  opposite  him  once  more.  1 
was  just  idling  and  dreaming  when  you  came  m  and  1 
am  not  ^ure  yet  but  you  are  part  of  a  ^Iream.  It  .s  too 
warm  even  to  read.     It  has  been  an  awful  day.  has  it 

not?"  ,         .  ,    ., 

"Yes   '  i'c  not  so  bad  as  last  mglit. 
"Realb"'-    The  evening  papers  say  it  was  hotter  to- 
day than  yesterday,  and  will  be  hotter  still  to-morrow. 

"  Oh  the  evening  papers  don't  know  what  they  are 
talking  about.  I  was  there.  And  that  reminds  me. 
You  were  angry  with  me  about  those  cheques. 

''  N^  not  angrv,  Mr.  Monro;  I  have  often  been  sorry 
I  spoke  so  harshly.  Haven't  you  forgiven  me  yet.  It 
is  long  ago,  you  know;  time  should  have  lessened  your 
resentment." 

"  Not  so  ver>'  long  ago." 

"Well  it  has  seemed  long  to  me.  perhaps  because  i 
knew  I  had  been  unjust  and  a  little  hard.  If  you  arc 
revengeful— sometimes  punishment  comes,  you  kncns. 
without  the  intervention  of  the  wronged  Person- 

"  I'm  not  revengeful.  I  wouldn  t  want  to  hurt  an 
enemy   much  less  a  friend.'  ,  .  ,    t         n 

'Then  you  are  better  than  I.     I  don't  think  I  coul- 
forgive  an  injury.     That's  the  red  hair,  perhaps,     an.! 
she^Iughed  as  she  shook  the  strands  from  her  tace. 
'  <'YoS  hair  is  not  red.     It's-ifs-I  can  t^^mk  ot  n 
comparison  to  it.  What's-his-name  says  it  s  red-Oh.  ><  u 
knZ"  he  snapped  finger  and  thumb  heM-V^^'-^    ^ 
recollect.      "  Well,   never   mind ;   it^  doesn  t   matter, 
can't  remember  his  name  just  now." 


''  Madam,  this  is  mere  distraction  "      509 

"  I  hope  you  haven't  been  (h'scussinpf  the  (lucstion  with 
any  one,"  she  said  with  some  severity. 

"  (Jh,  no.  That  was  a  lonjj  time  ago.  Xothin<j  mat- 
ters now  that  I'm  here  and  you're  here.  You're  sure 
that  you  understand  all  abt)ut  those  checjues?  Five  hun- 
dred dollars  each,  but  1  ccnildn't  help  it.  " 

"  Five  thousand,  you  mean." 

"Was  it  five  thousand?"  He  drew  down  his  !)row 
and  pondered;  then  laus^hed  softly  to  himself.  "  That's  a 
joke  on  him.     Fve  done  him  out  of  a  lot  of  money  then." 

"Of  whom  are  you  speakin.t:^  ?  "  asked  the  fjirl  in  low 
tones,  her  vapfue  fear  incrcasinp;^.  "  Of  Mr.  McAllis- 
ter?'' 

"  Ah,  that's  tl."  name  I  was  tryinq;  to  think  of  a  mo- 
ment since.  P.en !  Say,  Fm  worried  about  him.  He's 
all  over  the  country  and  won't  come  home.  The  business 
is  pfoinpf  to  pieces,  but  he  won't  come  back.  I  don't  be- 
lieve it  will  last  a  month." 

"  Ls  that  true?     Ts  that  what  is  troublinc^  you?" 

"Yes.  If  he  doesn't  come  back  1  don't  know  what 
will  happen." 

"  \Vhere  is  he  now  ?  " 

"  I  don't  remember.  Y'es  I  do.  Where  did  I  put  the 
telejjram?  Oh,  here  it  is.  He  telegraphs  every  day,  but 
what  is  the  use  of  that?    We  need  him." 

Monro  fumbled  about  in  his  pockets  and  at  last  pro- 
duced a  crumpled  paper  which  he  handed  to  her.  The 
telej^ratn  said : 

"  Shall  be  at  Grand  Hotel,  Cincinnati,  next  four  days. 
McAllister." 

"  What  you  tell  me  is  very  stran.ije,"  she  replied  after 
reading?  the  message  "  Hasn't  he  occupied  his  splendid 
house  at  all?  " 

"  Only  for  one  night.  I  think  that's  where  the  mis- 
take was.    The  house  was  too  costly  for  one  night's  use." 

"  Have  you  been  out  in  the  sun  to-dav  ?  " 

"Me?     No.     YoH  know  where  I  was." 

"  Why  do  you  sav  that  ?  " 

'■'■  Well,  you  called  on  me,  didn't  you?    This  is  the  re- ' 
turn  visit.     Isn't  that  ail  right?" 


510 


The  Victors 


The  disturbing  thought  crossed  her  mind  that  he  had 
been  drinking,  and  this,    vith  the  heat  of  the  day.  had 
overcome  him.     The  problem  became  how  to  get  out 
of  the  room.    He  sat  between  her  and  the  door  watching 
with  an  intentness  at  first  embarrassing,  latterly  pamful, 
every  movement  she  made.     Yet  he  seemed  so  gentle, 
and  the  tones  of  his  voice  were  so  kind,  that  even  now 
she  was  not  afraid  of  him.     She  hesitated  about  rmging 
for  a  servant,  hoping  he  would  go  home  of  his  own  vo- 
lition as  quietly  and  as  unnoticed  as  he  had  come.     H  s 
eves    never  leaving  her.  divined  her  uneasmess.     Now 
was 'his  opportunitv :  now.  or  the  vision  might  be  gone  as 
Thad  disVolved  before  his  outstretched  grasp  when  si  e 
censured  him.    She  was  meditating  escape  from  him ,  he 
saw  that.     If  he  failed  to  speak,  the  empty  chair  would 
confront  him;  already  she  was  wavering  in  ^'J  fevered 
sight,  and  the  moments  were  slipping,  slipping  from  him 
like  sand  in  the  glass.     He  loaned  forward  and  spoke  m 

^  '^Grlcriiow  lovely  you  look  in  that  dress  of  woven 

''^The'"  strange  accents  thrilled  the  girl  as  if  she  had  been 
wa  'ng  for^hem  all  her  life:  a  lost  chord  of  the  heart 
newly  awakened  into  music  at  the  touch  of  his  lips.  She 
anrwered.  half  frightened,  half  in  ecstasy,  hard  y  know 
ing  what  she  said,  the  lace  fluttermg  at  her  throat, 
risine  and  falling  with  her  quick  breathing : 

'•Oh   more  substantial  than  that.  I  hope,  Mr.  Monro. 

"  I  called  vou  Cirace." 

"  Well,  I  like  mv  own  name."  ,        .,  ,  „ 

"  So  do  I.     Mine  is  commonplace,  but  if  you  spoKe 

'^~Is    it    Jim    or    James?     There    is    something   very 

friendly  about  the  first-as  ^^.^^^^^^^^^V^nThrtitle  \b- 
But  he  was  not  interested  m  himself  or  his  title,  ao 
sorbed  in  her  alone,  his  shattered  mmd  clung  to  one 

subject.  .  r-  :)      Tn    r-if^nz 

"Do  you  know  how  I  picture  you,  Grace.     In  rage. 
You  would  be  a  very  queen  of  tatters— 
"  Oh,  that  is  most  uncomplimentary. 


"  Madam,  this  is  mere  distraction"      511 


"  No,  no.  Listen.  We  must  avoid  all  misunderstand- 
ing now,  Grace.  I  imaf^nne  you  and  me  u^ing  hand  in 
hand ;  no  one  else  in  the  world ;  no  money  to  make  or  to 
need;  no  checiues  and  no  banks  to  cash  them.  Just 
the  margin  of  the  lake  and  the  silver  strand  our  pave- 
ment, you  and  me  in  rags  and  caring  nothing  hut  for 
each  other.  And  the  mountains  to  climb,  to  the  edge  of 
the  woods,  with  the  lake  and  all  the  land  to  look  over. 
Will  you  come,  Grace?" 

"  It's  very  likely.  I  always  was  an  impracticable  per- 
son, but  I  should  like  a  needle  and  thread." 

"  And  you'll  wear  your  hair  down  as  it  is  now.  I 
think  if  God  wanted  to  tell  an  angel  how  beautiful  she 
was — He  would  compare  her  to  you,  Grace — " 

"Oh,  Oh,  don't  talk  like  that— you  frighten  me.  What 
is  wrong  with  vou — Jim  ?  " 

"  God  could  find  no  better  simile.  Your  hair  was  all 
loose  like  that  when  I  first  saw  you." 

"  No.  no.  You  never  saw  me  in  such  disarray 
before." 

"  Yes,  my  darling,  yes.  When  I  opened  that  state- 
room door  in  the  sleeping  car,  so  softly  you  never  heard, 
and  you  sat  there,  still  half  asleep  in  your  snowy  night 
dress,  I  thought  it  was  the  gate  of  heaven  I  had  un- 
closed and — " 

With  a  half-suppressed  cry  the  girl  had  arisen,  star- 
ing wild-eyed  at  him.  He  stood  up  also,  leaving  his 
chair  as  a  drunken  man  might. 

"What  have  I  said?  Shouldn't  I  have  told  you?  I 
did  not  intend  to  until— until—  Aren't  you  coming  with 
me.  after  all?  " 

Breathless,  she  tried  to  evade  him,  but  he  was  re- 
solved she  should  not  escape  a  second  time.  She  was 
too  precious  for  him  to  take  any  chance  of  losing  her, 
and  as  he  had  read  her  thought  before,  her  startled  eyes 
now  read  his,  and  she  knew  she  must  humour  his  frenzy 
if  she  were  to  be  victor. 

"  Tim."  she  whispered  with  forced  calmness.  "  what  is 


It  you  w 


ish? 


I  want  you  to  marry  me. 


m 


!l   i   is-  kit 


512 


The  Victors 


"  Yes.    You  will  then  do  what  I  ask  of  you  ?  " 
"  Always— always." 

"  Very   well :  sit  down  and  let  me  leave  you   for  a 
moment."  ^ 

"  Oh.  not  that,  not  that.    Yon  may  never  return,  and  1 
shall  not  know  where  to  find  you  this  time." 

••  I  shall  return  at  once;  besides,  you  promised,  and  if 
you  don't  keep  vour  promise  I  won't  keep  mine." 

"  \\\'ll  then  ril— 111  tell     ou.     if  I  put  my  hands  in 
your  hair  I'll  know  its  really  you.     I  don't  feel  sure  of 
you  even  yet,  but  after  that  I  should." 
"  Very  well.     I'm  willint;." 

She  came  bravely  up  to  him,  and  his  hands  lingered  in 
her  disordered  locks,  then  he  drew  her  toward  him  and 
kissed  her  unresisting  lips. 

"CIrace!  Grace,  place  your  sweet  cool  hands  on  my 
temples  and  I  know  the  pain  w:il  leave." 

"Are  vou  in  pain?"  she  asked  anxiously,  but  before 
he  could  reply  she  withdrew  her  hand  with  a  shriek,  and 
gazed  horror-stricken  at  it.  ,, 

"Jim,  Jim!"  she  cried,  "who  has  wounded  you? 
"  It's  all  right,  Grace.     That's  from  your  own  hair ; 
mine— mine  is  black.     The  gold  has  come  off  on  your 
fingers :  it  won't  hurt ;  no.  not  gold ;  that  stood  between 
us."  but  I've  throttled  it.     It  must  give  way  to  me  now. 

But  the  frightened  girl  was  not  listening  to  him.  She 
had  pressed  the  electric  button,  leaving  a  stain  on  the 
delicate  colouring  of  the  wall. 

"  Sit  down,"  she  commanded,  and  he  obeyed  like  a  doc- 
ile child. 

The  servant  came  to  the  door. 

"  Run,  run  for  Doctor  Marshall,"  she  cried,  below  her 
panting  breath.  "  Round  the  corner.  Tell  him  to  conic 
here  at  once — a  man  is  terribly  injured.  If  he  is  not  in. 
bring  some  other  doctor,  but  quick,  quick !  " 

"  Don't  let  any  one  come  into  this  room,  Grace,"  pro- 
tested Monro,  struggling  to  rise.  "  It's  ours.  No  one 
has  a  right  here  but  you  and  me." 

She  placed  her  hands  on  his  shoulders  and  restrained 
him. 

"  Jim,"  she  said,  "tell  me  who  did  this  ?  " 


•' Madi  .11,  this  is  mere  distraction"      513 

"Did  what,  (iracc?" 

"How  came  you  wounded?     Have  you  been  in  any 

accident?"  .  ,.        ^, 

"Oh.   that!     Ut   me   sec— that   was   the   pohce— they 

clubbed  me." 

"When?     Where?     Why?" 
"  Oil.  1  don't  know.    A  lonj^  time  a^o." 
"No.  no.     Tell  me  about  it.     Was  it   last  nisrht?" 
"  I  th  nk  it  was.     Yes,  I   was  in  a  cell  all  nii,dit.  but 
they  kicked  and  clubbed  me.  six  to  one.     I  couldn't  help 
mvself.     I  was  alone,  vou  know."  . 

'"Are   you   wanderinij.   or   ir   this   true.-'     Can   it  be 

true  ?  " 

There  was  a  tap  at  the  door. 

"  Dr.  Marshall,  miss." 

The  physician  came  in. 

"  Doct(/r,  this  is  Mr.  Monro,  a  very  dear  friend  of 
mine  1 1  e  savs  he  has  been  terribly  used  by  the  police— 
clubl)ed  and  'kicked— but  I  think."  lowering:  her  voice, 
"  that  he  is  raving— delirious."  ^ 

"  I  can  (|uite  credit  anvthin.cr  about  the  police.  It  s 
not  the  first  case  I've  had' to  treat."  said  the  doctor,  ad- 
vancin.ix  and  placinpf  bis  hand  on  the  head  of  the  pa- 
tient, who  cowered  from  the  touch. 

"It's  blecdincr!"  sbe  cried,  shuddering:. 
'  That  is  all  the  better."  returned  the  doctor.     "  Don  t 

be  alarmed." 

"  What  is  he  doing  here?'  expostulatc.1  Monro. stnis?- 
£rlin<'-  to  rise  "  I  wont  have  this  man  here.  He's  tjot 
the  "Ijolice  outside.  He's  the  police  doctor  the  lawyer 
wanted  to  brin.c:.     I  know  him." 

"  Not  at  all,"  said  Dr.  Marshall,  soothingly.  Do  you 
think  vou  can  come  with  me?     It's  only  a  few  steps." 

"  No   no      I'm  not  such  a  fool.     I'm  safe  here. 

"i)octor."  whispered  (".race,  "if  you  let  me  manage 
him  I  am  sure  I  can  bring  him  to  the  surgery.  He 
seems  afraid  of  you." 

"You'd  better  let  me  send  for  help,  Miss  Van  Ness. 
No  one  can  predict  how  he  may  act.     Wlicn  did  this 
happen  ?" 
33 


514 


The  Victors 


II 


i  \- 


"  Last  night,  he  said." 

"  And  has  he  had  no  attendance  since  then?  " 

"  I  think  not.  lie  wandered  in  here.  I  thought  he 
was  suffering  from  the  heat." 

"  That's  bad.  He  should  have  been  seen  to  long  ago. 
I'd  better  send  help  to  have  him  removed." 

"  I'm  afra-d  it  would  e.xcite  him.  lie  is  in  a  condi- 
tion to  be  led,  not  to  be  reasoned  with.  Leave  your  door 
open  and  keep  out  of  sight  until  I  get  him  into  the  sur- 
gery.' 

"  You  are  a  brave  girl,  Miss  Van  Ness.  You  s  is  the 
better  plan  if  it  can  be  accomplished.  Any  excitement  is 
bad.     Sure  you're  not  afraid?" 

"  Not  in  the  least.  On  your  way  out  please  ask  the 
maid  to  go  downstairs  and  not  stand  in  the  hall.  And, 
Dr.  Marshall,  oblige  me  by  telling  no  one,  not  even  my 
father,  that  Mr.  Monro  wandered  in  here." 

After  a  pause  of  a  few  moments  she  turned  to  her 
guest,  who  was  pleased  now  that  they  were  alone  again. 

"  Are  you  ready.  Jim  ?  " 

"  Oh,  quite  ready.    You  are  going  with  me  then  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  We'll  go  up  through  the  park,  then  along  the  Hud- 
son till  we  come  to  the  lake  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"And  you'll  take  my  hand,  Grace?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Oh,  that's  fine.    Wait  just  a  moment." 

He  was  standing  beside  her,  smiling.  Taking  her 
sleeve  between  his  fingers,  he  tore  the  frail  material  from 
the  shoulder  down,  exposing  the  white,  firm  arm,  then 
bent  his  head  and  pressed  his  lips  aga'nst  the  snow-pale 
flesh,  leaving  a  tint  like  the  rose.  "  That's  the  advantage 
of  the  rags,  you  see." 

"  Yes." 

"  Now  give  me  your  hand." 

"  The  other  hand,  Jim.  The  bared  shoulder  should 
be  next  the  ragman." 

Jim  laughed  with  quiet  satisfaction  at  this,  and  so  they 
went  out  together,  hand  in  hand,  through  the  hall,  down 


"  Madam,  this  is  mere  distraction"     515 

tl..  steps  to  the  stR-ct,  fortunately  (k-scrfefl.  Ttuy  walked 
slowly,  lu'  Iraninj^  more  and  mon-  lu-avily  upon  luT,  and 
at  thi'  doctor's  house  iiaust'd.  hroatliiiij,'  iiard. 

'*  Is  this — is  this  tli<.'  mountain,  (iracc?  " 

"  Yes.     One  more  effort  and  we  are  safe." 

"  What  an  awful  thinjj— if  after  all— we  eame  to  the 
foot — and — and  Cfuildn't  clinih."' 

"  (Jod — is  not  so  cruel  as  that,  Jim."  said  the  j^irl  with 
a  sob. 

He  labourt'd  up.  step  by  step,  failinpf  |)erceptil)ly. 

"Doctor,  doctor!"  cried  his  j^uide,  "come  (juickly ; 
help  us." 

But  Jim  stumbled  on  the  threshold,  tlunjj  his  hands  to 
his  head  and  pitched  forward,  prone  in  the  hallway. 


1 


()   con   DKl  IM)    mk!     . 


1    iii;si-.T !  " 


the 


Tiii.Ki:  is  notliinj::  more  c  ijn 
fiction  than  those  stories  r.  h'li! 
something  mysteriously  hicMv,  :  i  '1  i 
I'rench  writer  will  make  a  ''unu 
slmrt  tale.  The  hi,!fhi'-;t  ])inna> '•  '>t  liu  ,. 
reached  hy  I''.tl,<;ar  Mian  I'oe  thn  ii  - 
arv  pem.  "  The  Purloinecl  Le  ii.  .^'i  ' 
ment  is  ac(iuire<l  hy  a  proi  «inent  olTiei, 
comi)romisinf:  the  honour  (  !   a  (jueen. 


ikI  sa.isfactorv   in 


'•V    ,'ery    of 

.    which    a 

,,    American  a 

]>rohal)ly 

.  ,;arahlo  liter- 

iportant  docu- 

--a    document 

t    nnist  he   re- 


pained,  and  the  whole  adniiiaMe  ivilice  svstem  of  I'rance 
is  at  the  di..,)  .■,.^  of  the  sean-lur.  toi^rether  with  the  aid 
of  hired  hra-^os  who  rnay  waylay  and  even  murder  with 
impunity  the  supposed  holder  of  the  note.  Yet  the  com 
binatiou  is  frustrated;  all  the  usual  tricks  of  the  track 
are  valueless;  the  document  is  not  forthcoming.  Tlun 
a  casual  outsider  (it  is  always  an  amateur  who  succeeds 
where  professionals  faiH  piles  one  little  detail  ahove  an- 
other, and  there,  at  the  top  of  the  heap,  is  the  missin.u:  let- 
ter. If  the  idea  had  come  to  Dumas  he  would  have  made 
one  nc'-'M  and  twenty  s<."quels  to  it.  Toe  flipped  it  carr- 
lessly  to  tlie  public  in  as  many  pages,  yet  it  remains  to 
day  a  supreme  example  of  its  class. 

N'aturc  is  not  artistic,  as  Mr.  Whistler  is  said  to  have 
remarked.  She  cares  nothing  for  climaxes.  In  every- 
day life  a  man  fits  in  all  the  apparent  trivialities  one  to 
another,  hut  the  purloined  letter  is  not  discovered. 

When  Benjamin  Mc.Mlister  set  out  to  find  the  missm.i: 
woman,  his  whole  mind  was  concentrated  upon  the  task, 
and  he  forgot  the  huge  establishment  on  Sixth  Avenue 
as  completely  as  if  it  had  never  existed. 

He  leaned  back  in  his  scat  on  the  westward  bound 

5^6 


"O  (loci  tkfciul  incl  how  am   I  beset  1 "    5»7 


train  and  spread  <>ni  hviurv  lii^  intillect  the  <UtaclK-d 
fraj^nients  dI  tlio  i)UzzU-  lie  li.id  to  solve.  j'.>inii\u  li'il-;  to 
link  with  patient  accitraey.  Inipul-e.  r.itlier  than  reason, 
had  led  him  to  hnv  a  ticket  to  Chica.Lro.  In  tlie  \\  e>t  was 
his  own  he^inninK'.  and  soiiuhou  llie  W  e>t  heeki  nol  iuni. 
and  he  ohived  the  sunnnoiis.  Now  he  seemed  to  have  an 
eternity  of  leisure  hefore  him.  although  the  tra-n  on  which 
he  travelled  was  one  of  ilic  la>test. 

This  was  no  sudden  tlit,dn  which  lonstance  had  taken, 
but  a  desertion  preme<litaled  and  prei)ared  lor      That  he 
had  Kii'hereil    tVoin  her  tetter.      She   would  make   tor  a 
defmite  point  arrani;ed  I.eforehand.     Had  she  any  money 
with  her?      It   was   unlkely   that   slie  possessed  a   laryc 
amount.     Durini:  tiieir  life  toj^a-ther  lie  ha<l  always  heen 
tlic  cashier,  she  a-^kin.i:  him  for  what  she  wanted,  and  };et- 
tinp  it  without  (|uestion— it  he  had  it.     His  memory,  raw 
after  readinja:  her  letter,  n^w  accused  him.    Was  it  a    act 
that  she  had  often  shrunk  from  the  askinp:.  ^nviiiK  a'.ol- 
oj^etic  reasons,  i)leadinp  the  inevitahleiiess  of  her  need? 
Could  such  a   feelins;  have  heen   jxissihle?      If  she  had 
come  to  him  a  wealthv  woman,  instead  of  merely  m  pos- 
session of  the  clothes' she  wore,  would  he  have  hesitated 
to    ask    her  for    what    money    he    v  anted?     Certainly 
not;    he  would  have    heen    irlad  to    accei)t    it  from    her. 
because   he   loved   her.     What   difference   should   money 
make    between  two    peoi)le  who    cared  for    each    other . 
What    matter    which    was    the    ffiver    and    which    the 
receiver?     ^et    might    it    not    be   because    she   came   to 
him   penniless   and   he   was   the   maker   of   their   money 
that    there    was    an    ever-increasing    reluctance    to    re- 
(luire  from  him  anv  Nhare  of   it?     Why  had  he  never 
thought    of    i)lacing   a    hank    account    at    her    disposal.'' 

\ny  time  these  last  few  y^ars  he  might  have  done  this, 
and"  would  have  done  it  if  she  had  spoken  the  word  15ut 
she  never  gave  a  hint  of  that  or  any  other  of  Ins 
imagined  failings:  each  fault,  trivial  in  itself  as  a 
snowtlake  that  niiuht  vanish  at  a  breath,  had  been  al- 
lowed silcntlv  to  accumulate  all  these  years  unsuspected 
bv  him  imtirhe  was  sudck-dy  overwhelmed  bv  the  :iva- 


lanche  thai  had  ioriuou. 


It 


was  un 


fair,  unfair,  u 


n  f  1 


5i8 


The  Victors 


Yet  now  after  all,  he  possessed  everything  and  she  had 
nothing.  She  might  possibly  be  in  want  and  he  a  mil- 
lionaire! Oh,  for  the  chance  of  slipping  unnoticed  a 
thousand  dollars  into  her  pocket !  His  eyes  dimmed  and 
filled  and  he  turned  them  to  the  flying  window,  that  cal- 
lous or  curious  tellow-travcUers  nii'^ht  not  notice  such 
evidence  of  unmanlincss. 

He  shook  himself  free  from  the  grasp  of  recollection. 
The  past  was  past ;  the  present  clamoured  to  be  grappled 
with.  She  must  have  determmed  to  earn  her  own 
money.  How?  A  most  capable  housewife,  as  was 
shown  in  their  own  poverty  days,  and  all  America  groan- 
ing under  arrogant  domestic  incapacity,  here  was  an  op- 
portunity ;  but  he  dismissed  it  without  a  moment's  con- 
sideration. An  American  woman  will  slave  in  her  own 
home,  but  she  will  not  work  in  the  kitchen  of  another  for 
any  wage  that  may  be  offered.  Slie  was  qualified  as  a 
teacher,  and  to  that  profession  she  would  turn :  adver- 
tisement had  either  been  inserted  in  a  newspaper,  or  one 
already  there  had  been  answered.  What  paper?  None 
in  New  York  certainly.  The  local  sheet  of  her  own 
home  had  always  come  to  her.  During  the  first  year 
of  their  married  life  McAllister  had  sent  in  a  sub- 
scription, and  the  paper  had  continued  to  come  ever 
since,  with  the  pathetic  confidence  which  the  rural  editor 
has  that  the  delinquent  subscriber  will  uUimately  pay,  or 
the  firmer  assurance  that  the  law  will  enforce  a  settle- 
ment when  the  amount  becomes  large  enough  to  justify 
action.  In  that  journal  then  the  advertisement  had  ap- 
peared. The  moment  he  arrived  in  Chicago  he  would 
order,  through  the  news  company,  a  complete  file  for  the 
past  six  niionths  and  he  would  search  each  column  to 
trace  the  situation  she  had  secured.  He  had  a  dim  idea 
t!  at  the  certificate  or  diploma,  authorising  her  to  teach 
in  a  school,  was  good  only  in  Illinois.  It  would  be  sim- 
ply a  matter  of  detail  to  get  a  list  of  the  teachers  and  as- 
sistants in  every  school  of  that  state.  Failing  Illinois  he 
would  search  one  state  after  another;  there  was  only  a 
limited  number  of  them.  Would  she  abandon  her  own 
name?     Possible,   but  unlikely.     There  was   something 


*'0  God  defend  me!  how  am  I  beset!"    519 

St raig:ht forward  in  her  nature  which  would  shrink  from 
the  adoption  of  an  alias.  She  would  be  teachirif;-  under 
the  title  of  Mrs.  McAllister  or  ConstaJice  Fraser. 

Would  she  visit  her  own  home?  Xo.  Her  parents 
would  know  nothing'  of  this  disruption  if  she  could  pre- 
vent the  knowledge  reachin.!^  them.  She  was  proud  in 
her  quiet  way  and  would  be  loath  to  admit  that  she  had 
inade  a  wreck  of  her  life.  Then  whv  had  "he  not  warned 
him  afjainst  going  to  them  aj  she  had  counselled  him 
against  recourse  to  detectives?  ProI)ably  because  the 
thought  had  not  occurred  to  her.  One  could  not  remem- 
ber everything  at  such  a  moment.  She  had  married  in 
opposition  to  the  will  of  her  father;  she  had  made  her 
choice  and  must  abide  by  it ;  she  could  not  add  so  great 
a  grief  to  her  mother's  burden ;  her  native  town  might 
learn  of  her  failure,  but  not  through  any  confession  of 
hers. 

Thus  McAllis'.er  reasoned  himself  to  Chicago.  His 
reasoning  was  good,  and  i.is  deductions,  in  the  main,  ac- 
curate, yet  never  once  was  the  missi'^q^  woman  at  the  end 
of  a  clue.  His  natural  confidence  su>iained  him  through 
many  a  disappointment,  but  now  and  then  periods  of 
deep  depression  came  upon  him.  and  the  world  looked 
blue.  Certain  cities  and  towns  were  ever  afterward  as- 
sociated in  his  mind  with  boding  misery,  and  the  utter- 
ance of  their  very  names  would  chill  the  brightest  day. 

He  was  passing  through  one  of  these  valleys  of  gloom 
in  Cmcinnati.  Tlie  State  of  ( )hio  had  been  thoroughly 
but  fruitlessly  searched,  and  he  sank  into  a  chair  in  the 
vast  hall  of  the  hotel  a  coini)letely  discouraged  man, 
lacking  the  energy  to  move  further  east,  in  continuation 
of  his  unavailing  quest.  The  sights  and  sounds  of  a 
big  hotel's  activities  went  on  around  him  unnoticed.  He 
sat  there  a  figure  of  des])ondcncy.  hands  deep  thrust  in 
his  trousers  pockets,  hat  drawn  down  over  his  eyes. 

"  Number  T,y,  Number  37,"  a  boy  was  calling  in  high 
plaintive  tones  and  getting  no  answer. 

"  If  I  could  write  as  Connie  can."  muttered  the  man 
to  himself.  "  I'd  go  to  my  room  and  put  down  just  how 
I  feel,  and  I'd  keep  the  paper,  so  that  if  ever  1  got  dis- 


520 


The  Victors 


^! 


couraged  again  I'd  read  it,  and  know  the  lowest  point  a 
man  can  reach — and  live." 

"  Number  37,  number  37."' 

"  I  can  never  feel  worse  than  I  do  now.  Even  if  T 
knew  she  was  dead — why — that  ought  to  be  worse,  of 
course — but  I  don't  know.  I  guess  the  accumulation  of 
all  the  failures  which  I  bear  up  under  at  the  time  kind 
of  comes  down  on  me  at  once,  all  of  a  heap — and  that 
way — " 

"  Number  37.     Telegram  for  number  37." 

"  I  wonder  if  the  things  1  didn't  do  heaped  them- 
selves up  on  Connie  like  that  until  she  couldn't  bear  them 
any  longer;  yet  why  didn't  she  speak?  I'd  have 
shouted." 

"  Number  37,"  wailed  the  boy,  going  down  a  corridor, 
his  cry  diminishing. 

Some  sentinel  in  McAllister's  brain  was  warning  him ; 
some  alert  remnant  of  his  active  mind  wa-;  on  duty  while 
the  rest  remained  dormant.  It  aroused  him.  He  drew 
in  his  feet ;  pushed  back  his  hat. 

"  Hey,  boy.    Bring  that  here.    I'm  37  '' 

The  boy  came  forward  with  an  injured  air.  Why 
hadn't  he  said  so  long  ago?    He  was  there  all  the  time. 

McAllister  tore  open  the  envelope.  It  contained  sev- 
eral sheets ;  an  unusual  thing  with  a  telegram.  He  read 
and  sat  motionless  for  a  few  minutes,  then  rose  la- 
boriously and  went  over  to  the  marble  counter,  with  the 
bearing  of  an  old  man. 

"  What  time  is  there  a  train  for  New  York?  " 

The  clerk  told  him. 

"  When  does  it  reach  there  ?  " 

The  clerk  consulted  a  folder  and  stated  the  time. 

"  Secure  a  berth  for  me  on  that  train,  and  have  my 
bill  ready." 

"  All  right,  Mr.  McAllister." 

He  went  over  to  the  telegraph  corner,  wrote  a  mes- 
sage and  paid  for  it,  then  took  the  elevator  to  his  floor 
and  locked  himself  in  Number  37.  He  spread  the  telo- 
graphic  sheets  on  the  table  and  stood  looking  at  them.. 

"  Funny,  what  a  woman  \A\l  say  'n  a  message,"  he 


"O  God  defend  me!  how  am  I  beset!"    521 

murmured.  "  She  thinks  it  as  secret  as  a  letter. 
Enough  to  bankru])!  a  Inisiness  in  itself,  that  telegram. 
Poor  Jim,  poor  old  Jim!  " 

lie  had  to  clear  his  eyes  once  or  twice  before  he  could 
read  the  words  again. 

"  r.enjamin  McAllister,  (irand  Hotel,  Cincinnati. 

"  Come  to  New  York  at  once.  James  Monro  has  been 
clubbed  nearly  to  death  by  the  police,  and  now  lies  in 
Compton  Hospital  hovering  between  delirium  and  un- 
consciousness. He  is  suffering  from  concussion  of  the 
brain  and  brain  fever.  Your  business  is  in  |)eril  and 
will  be  ruined  if  you  remain  longer  away.  I  have  asked 
Holderness  to  assume  charge  until  you  return,  but  don't 
delay.  Telegraph  me  the  hour  and  station  of  your  ar- 
rival and  I  will  meet  your  train  with  the  carriage. 

'■  GK.\t  !■:  \'a.\'  .\i:ss." 

The  reader  of  this  serious  conmiunication  walked  up 
and  down  the  room,  and  for  a  time  it  seemed  that  the 
message  had  made  small  impression  on  him.  as  a  man 
already  soaked  by  the  rain  cares  little  that  he  has  stepped 
into  the  brimming  ditch.  I'.ut  by-and-by  the  news  began 
to  bear  him  down  and  his  bent  sluxdders  liowed  still  fur- 
ther under  it.  At  last  he  paused,  sank  on  his  knees  be- 
side the  bed  and  buried  his  face  in  the  counterpane, 
shaken  with  grief. 

"O  God,  O  Crod,  why  hast  Thou  forsaken  me? 
What  have  I  done,  what  have  I  done?  Has  this  last 
com^  upon  me  in  my  darkness  because  I  said  I  was  on 
the  lowest  step,  and  now  there  is  another,  and  perhaps 
another  still?  ()  Cod,  have  pity  on  me,  a  broken  man. 
I  have  vaunted  and  I  am  bumbled  :  I  was  a  braggart  and 
am  laid  low.  Hut,  ()  righteous  I^ml,  visit  not  my 
shortcomings  upon  the  innocent.  Jim  was  patient  and 
true  and  faithful — the  better  man — the  uncomplaining, 
honest  heart.  Just  and  merciful  l-'ather.  show  Thy  jus- 
tice and  mercy  to  him,  and  let  Thy  wrath  fall  on  the 
head  that  merits  it.  Wipe  me  ir<Mit  tile  face  of  the  earth 
I  cumber — I  am  not  wanted — there  is  not  a  living  soul 


.5y»'-T<'. 


522 


The  Victors 


that  needs  me ;  a  Ixiaster,  vain  of  his  strength ;  but  in 
my  stead,  spare  Jim,  who  never  in  thought  or  deed  did 
harm  to  the  least  of  Thy  creatures.  Restore  him  to 
health  and  strength  and  sanity. 

"  If  it  be  Thy  will  that  what,  in  vanity,  I  called  the 
work  of  my  days  and  nights  is  to  meet  wreck,  save  yet 
a  remnant  for  my  wife.  Let  her  not  feel  the  yoke  of  de- 
pendence, the  grasp  of  poverty.  Never  allow  a  doubt 
to  visit  her  of  the  step  she  took,  for  it  was  of  Thy  wise 
ordering ;  but  if  I  am  to  live,  oh,  give  her  back  to  me,  that 
thus  I  may  atone.  And  now,  O  God.  direct  Thou  my 
feet ;  clear  my  weaned  brain  of  all  weak  human  purpos- 
ings,  and  leave  it  waiting  untrammelled  for  Thy  com- 
mands ;  make  it  sensitive  to  receive,  quick  to  understand ; 
and  this  I  ask  for  the  sake  of  Him  ihat  suffered  as  man 
and  bore  it  as  God." 


CHAPTER    VII 

"  WILL     RAIN      HOT     VK.NGEANCE     ON     OFFENDERS  " 

Many  an  eye  turned  for  a  second  glance  at  the  superb 
young  woman  who  paced  the  platform  wait  in  jj  for  the 
western  train,  now  some  minutes  overdue.  (Irace  \'an 
Ness  was  entirely  self-absorbed,  taking  small  note  of 
the  throng  around  her.  She  conned  in  her  mind  the 
coming  interview  with  McAllister,  trying  to  surmise 
the  line  of  action  he  would  take,  resolved  to  influence 
him  from  it  if  it  ran  counter  to  her  own  fixed  purpose, 
yet  fearing  she  might  not  succeed,  for  she  knew  him  to 
be  a  strenuous  man,  overpowering  opposition  rather  than 
yielding  to  it;  tenacious  until  he  had  wrenched  success 
from  reluctant  circumstance.  She  was  determined  not  to 
reveal  her  love  for  the  young  man  now  laid  low,  but  of 
that  she  had  little  fear;  McAllister  was  colour  blind  to 
any  hue  except  the  tint  at  which  he  habitually  gazed.  He 
was  so  single-minded,  so  intent  on  the  subject  immedi- 
ately under  discussion,  that  an  inadvertent  phrase,  an  in- 
cautious admission  had  no  effect  upon  him.  He  always 
took  the  straight  road,  and  had  no  wandering  eye  for  the 
by-paths. 

The  sonorous  clangour  of  the  swaying  engine  beil  an- 
nounced the  approach  of  the  train ;  the  girl  roused  her- 
self from  reverie  and  became  alert.  People  eager  to  be 
in  the  turmoil  dropped  off  the  slowing  train  like  ripe 
fruit  from  a  shaken  tree.  The  passenger  she  sought  was 
one  of  the  last  to  step  down,  and  this  struck  her  as  sin- 
gular. She  watched  him  with  dismay  as  he  quitted 
the  car  timorously,  as  if  afraid  of  a  stumble.  Was  this 
bent  ghost  the  man  on  whose  strength  she  had  counted? 
Had  the  blow  that  left  her  straight  against  the  storm 
fallen  so  heavily  on  him?    Then  was  friendship  greater 


m%M 


524 


The  Victors 


I 


than  love ;    he  submissive  and  crushed ;  she  tinsUnjj  for 
revenge.     The  hope  that  had  buoyed  her.  that  bade  her 
look  forward  to  a  cominj,'  champion,  died  in  her  heart. 
This  bowed  figure  did  not  tread  with  the  free  step  of  the 
conqueror ;  his  was  the  faltering  walk  of  tlie  countryman 
timid  of  the  town. 
•'  Mr.  McAllister." 
"  O,  Miss  Van  Ness.     How  is  he?  " 
"  There  is  no  change  either  for  the  better  or  the  worse. 
I  sent  up  to  the  hospital,  knowing  you  would  be  anxious." 
"  Yes,  yes.     That  was  good  of  you,  and  it  is  kind  to 
meet  me  here.     What  do  the  doctors  say?"' 

"  They  are  non-committal.  They  say  he  has  great 
bodily  strength,  and  that  this  is  in  his  favour;  but  they 
alwavs  say  that."  . 

"  Yes ;  nevertheless  it's  true.  Now  is  the  time  when 
Jim's  straight  life  will  stand  his  friend.  Poor  old  Jim; 
what  in  Heaven's  name  did  thev  club  him  for?  " 

"  I  don't  know.  Come  this  way,  Mr.  McAllister. 
The  carriage  is  here.  Would  you  like  to  drive  first  to 
the  hospital?    You  won't  be  allowed  to  see  him,  you 

know."  T-     I     r.  ^        -11 

"  I    suppose   not.     Poor   Jim !   poor   Jim !     But   we  11 

drive  there,  if  it  isn't  taking  vou  out  of  your  way. 
"  Out  of  my  way?    W^hy,  Mr.  McAllister,  that's  what 

I  am  here  for." 

He  murmured  disconnected  thanks  and  she  gave  briot 
directions  to  the  coachman;  then  they  stepped  into  the 

carriage.  .  , 

"  Now,  Mr.  McAllister,  what  have  you  made  up  your 
mind  to  do?  Jim— Mr.  Monro  is  in  good  hands,  with  the 
best  attendance    in    New    York.     You  can  do  nothint; 

further  for  him."  i- ,    •. 

"Tell    me    about  it,  Miss    Van    Ness;  when    did    it 

happen?"  ,  tt  ^   i 

''On  the  night  of  Decoration  Day.  He  was  arrestul 
on  some  pretence  or  other,  and  taken  to  Oswald  Street 
police  station.  It  seems  he  is  recorded  there  as  haying 
been  drunk  and  violent.  He  resisted  the  police  hoy 
say     He  was  brutally  assaulted,  tlirown  into  a  cell,  kept 


*'Will  rain  hot  venj^fcancc  on  offenders  "     525 


there  all  night,  and  let  out  on  bail  tu\.t  morning.  He 
seems  to  have  spent  part  of  the  day  in  his  own  rooms, 
but  went  to  the  store  in  the  afternoon.  .Mr.  Hoklerness 
noticed  that  he  was  not  in  his  usual  form,  hut  Mr.  Monro 
said  that  he  had  been  up  all  night,  and  Ilolderness 
thought  no  more  of  the  !natter.  He  appears  to  have 
been  the  last  to  leave  the  store,  and  no  one  knows  where 
he  went,  but  late  that  night  lu-  came  to  the  door  of  Dr. 
Marshall's  house  and  tainted  on  the  threshold.  Dr. 
Marshall  is  a  neighbour  of  ours  and  an  old  friend  of  my 
father's." 

"  Oh,  that's  how  you  came  to  hear  about  it.  What  a 
lucky  thing." 

"  i)r.  Marshall  treated  him  and  took  him  in  an  ambu- 
lance to  the  hospital  and  asked  the  doctor  to  get  the  best 
advice  and  secure  the  best  accommodation.  He  has 
done  so." 

"  How  did  the  doctor  know  who  he  was?  " 

"  Well — well — you  know — your  telegram  was  found 
in  his  pocket — the  telegram  from  Cincinnati." 

"  I  see.     .\nd  that's  where  you  got  my  address?" 

"  Yes,  and  telegrai)he(l  you  ne.Kt  day,  after  asking 
Holderness  to  take  charge." 

"  When  it  was  to  be.  how  fortunate  it  all  turned  out. 
Miss  \'an  Xess,  you  have  proved  a  friend  indeed,  as  you 
have  done  before." 

"  Well,  you  see,  I  am  interested  in  the  store." 

"  Of  course,  of  course.  We  must  all  do  o.ir  best — 
under  guidance — under  guidance." 

"  Then  what  is  the  first  thing  you  propose  to  do?" 

"  I — I  dont  know." 

"  You  don't  know  ?     Haven't  you  made  any  plans  ?  " 

"  No.     I  tried  to  avoid  making  them." 

"  Why,  Mr.  Mc.Mlister,  you  amaze  me.  Do  you  mean 
to  say  that  you  have  marked  out  no  course  of  action 
since  vou  got  mv  telegram  ?  " 

"  No.  I  shall  have  to  set  about  getting  some  money. 
J  suppose.  Over  a  hundred  thousand  dollars  will  have 
to  be  raised  somehow;  so  Jim  said  in  his  last  letter.  I 
didn't  think  things  were  as  bad  as  that.    I  thought  per- 


526 


The  Victors 


haps  you  could  assist  me  there.  If  you  would  say  a 
good  word  to  your  father — " 

"  My  father  is  in  San  Francisco ;  has  been  west  for 
three  weeks ;  won't  be  home  for  a  month  yet." 

The  girl  was  l«.aning  back  in  the  carriage,  lips  tightly 
closed,  a  flashing  despair  snapping  from  her  glorious 
eyes,  as  he  glanced  uneasily  at  her.  she  having  answered 
him  so  shortly. 

"  Well,  1  can  hold  off  for  a  month.  He  could  help 
me  to  get  up  a  little  syndicate,  your  father  could — I 
know  times  are  hard,  but — " 

She  roused  herself,  and  the  words  faltered  on  his  lips. 

"  A  little  syndicate !  Money,  money,  money,  and  your 
friend — the  man  who  stuck  by  you  through  thick  and 
thin  lying  at  the  gates  of  death,  flung  against  them  by 
those  unscourged  ruffians." 

"  But — but  you  said  yourself  that  we  can  do  nothing 
more  for  Jim  than  is  being  done  for  him.  Willingly 
would  I  take  his  place —  Yes,  he  has  stuck  by  me  as  you 
say ;  no  one  knows  better  than  I  how  true-hearted  he  is. 
Money?  Every  cent  I  possess  or  hope  to  possess  I'd 
squander  to  see  him  well  again.  But  what  can  I  do? 
What  can  I  do  ?  " 

"  Do  ?  You  can  crush  the  nest  of  vipers  that  stung 
him." 

"  But  that  won't  help  Jim,  Miss  \'an  Xess.  That  is 
mere  revenge,  from  which  we  should  clear  our  hearts. 
'  Vengeance  is  mine  and  I  will  repay,  saith  the  Lord.'  " 

"  I  wonder  how  often  that  scriptural  phrase  has  been 
used  as  a  shield  by  cowards  afraid  to  do  their  duty  ?  Rut 
I  can  match  it.  '  Slay  and  spare  not,'  saith  the  Lord. 
I  can't  give  you  chapter  and  verse,  but  I'm  sure  it's  in 
the  book.  If  vengeance  is  the  Lord's,  surely  we  are  His 
instruments." 

"  Yes,  yes,  we  are,  but  we  lust  guard  against  taking 
our  own  human  passions  for  the  mandate  of  heaven." 

"  We  are  as  the  Lord  made  us,  human  passions  and 
all." 

"  Yes,  but  our  passions  are  for  us  to  curb.  You  cry 
for  vengeance — " 


"Will  rain  hot  vengeance  on  offenders"    527 

"  I  don't." 

"  Then  I  have  misunderstood  you." 

"  I  dare  say.  1  am  merely  at  this  moment  learning 
the  kind  of  vengeance  the  l.ord  has  in  store  for  those 
brutes.    That  vengeance  will  fall  is  certain." 

"  Why  do  you  think  so?  " 

"  Listen  to  me,  Mr.  McAllister.  1  have  no  brother  to 
whom  I  can  appeal ;  my  father  is  away,  and  would  not 
understand  my  feeling  if  he  were  here.  I  looked  to  you, 
the  life-long  friend  of  the  .stricken  man — as  toward  the 
indignant  personification  of  justice.  1  am  bitterly  dis- 
appointed. I  find  you  an  inert  te.xt-(|Uoter,  talking  of 
syndicates ;  I  ask  you  to  act  and  you  demur.  Very  well, 
the  Lord  evidently  intends  me  to  act  in  your  place.  I 
shall  go  down  liroadway  after  I  leave  you.  buy  the  best 
revolver  to  be  had — " 

"  Miss  Van  Ness,  you  don't  know  what  you  are  say- 
ing. Why — is  it  possible  that  after  all  you  care  for  Jim 
— in  that  way — that — " 

"  Mr.  McAllister,  you  were  inane  Ix-fore ;  now  you  are 
stupid.  Cannot  you  credit  a  woman  with  any  civic 
pride?  We  women  did  not  set  up  this  government:  you 
men  did.  and  when  one  is  clubbed  to  death  I  suppose  the 
others  are  thankful  they  escaped.  They  .vant  to  make 
money:  to  form  syndicates.  Mr.  Monro  has  nothing 
to  do  with  my  action,  and  no  influence  over  it.  Was 
there  a  man  in  question  when  Joan  of  .\rc  imfurled  the 
banner  of  France  and  fcjught  for  ii  ?  I  never  heard  of 
him.  I  think  New  York  needs  a  Joan  of  Arc,  and  if 
New  York  will  accept  n;e.  1  am  ready.  The  statue  of 
Liberty  in  the  liarbotir  is  a  woman." 

"  Miss  \'an  Xe>s,  I  will  do  whatever  you  tell  me  to, 
short  of  using  the  revolver." 

"  Then  go  at  once  to  the  chief  authority  of  this  town ; 
tell  him  of  the  crime  that  has  been  committed  and  de- 
mand instant  retribution  on  the  scoundrels." 

"  I'm  afra-d  vou  don't  know  New  York.  Tlie  chief 
of  police  will  likelv  laugh  at  me.     Ik-  will  say—" 

"  The  chief  of  police  has  nothuig  to  do  with  the  matter, 
nor  the  Mayor  either.     They  are  but  creatures  of  the 


■mf  «Ha»Kxri?n»r,.^^^£s 


The  Victors 
Surely  you  read  the  papers,     do  direct  to  Ma- 


52« 

Boss, 
guirc.  ' 

"  To  Maguire?  As  well  complain  to  the  devil  that  one 
of  his  satellites  has  been  swearing.  Maguire  is  the 
biggest  thief  in  Christendom." 

"  Nevertheless  he  is  the  Boss.  lie  can  act  effectively 
if  he  likes,  and  tlwre  is  an  election  coming  on.  Tell  him 
how  many  employees  you  have  and  how  many  votes  you 
can  control.  Use  the'  wisdom  of  the  serpent  as  well  as 
the  guilelessness  of  the  dove." 

"  I  shall  do  my  best,  and  if  that  doesn't  answer  we'll 
try  some  other  course." 

"Thank  vnu.  Mr.  McAllister,  and  now  please  forget 
all  the  harsh  things  I  said  to  you.  I  didn't  really  mean 
them.  When  my  father  returns  I  wll  do  mv  best  to  get 
him  interested  in  vour  syndicate,  lie  can  influence 
others,  so  I  think  there  will  be  little  difficulty  about  it." 

There  was  silence  in  the  carriage  until  it  stopped  at 
the  door  of  the  hospital. 


CHAPTER    VIII 


"  MAKi:  A  S(  Aurruow   <>i'    iiii    i.wv 

Wfif.n  vnu  want  to  tiiid  tlic  I'oss,  ask  a  policeman. 
McAllister  did  Sd,  and  kariKd  that  Ma.u'uirc  lived  at  the 
Windsor  Hotel,  had  lived  there  for  >ears  and  years,  hut 
was  usually  to  he  found  in  the  Ahorijiinal  Cliih,  wlu  re  he 
possessed  a  private  room. 

To  this  club,  therefore.  McAllister  went,  sent  up  h  s 
card  to  Mr.  Majfuire  and  was  shown  in,(.  a  wailin<;-rooin 
at  one  side  of  the  entrance.  The  hali  porter  could  not 
tell  him  whether  the  I'.oss  was  in  or  not.  i'here  wore  a 
preat  number  of  peoi)le  hovering  about  in  this  waitintr- 
rootn  hoping;  to  see  him.  Mc.Ml.ster  liad  sp.,ken  to  the 
hall  porter  several  times  about  the  delay,  hut  ^ol  little 
satisfaction,  for  that  individual  was  evidently  case- 
hardened  apainst  encjuiry  and  people  who  wanted  to 
know.  One  fellow-victim  said  to  Hen,  sceinj.j  h.s  uneasi- 
ness: 

"That's  the  P.oss's  carriajje  out  at  the  door,  r.nd  you 
mav  be  sure  that  as  lent;  as  its  there  he'll  he  here'.  W  hen 
it  drives  off  he'll  be  in  it.  and  you'll  see  no  more  of  him 
this  dav." 

McAllister  thanked  hi>  informant  and  continued  to 
wait.  .'\t  last  he  saw  an  acciuaintance  coine  up  the  steps, 
and  went  out  into  the  hall  to  intercept  him. 

"  Hello.  Sanderson !  "  .  „ 

"  Hello.  Mc.Mlister!     I  heard  you  were  out  of  town. 

"  Got  back  from  the  West  this  mornin,!?.  1  wanted  to 
sec  Majjuire.  but  I'm  afraid  of  strikin.ij  rout  in  that  wait- 
in  jj-room.'  T      1      -f? 

••  Come  on  in  with  mc.  You're  not  a  member.  I  take  it . 
Well,  come  in.    You'll  !h-  a  fn-.nd  from  thr  W  est.    W  e  re 
barred  from  admitting  New  Yorkers.     I'm  not  very  well 
34  539 


530 


The  Victors 


HI  « 


it 

I*. 


acquainted  with  Mapfuiro,  but  we're  sure  to  find  some 
one  here  who  can  take  you  up  to  him.  He  may  l)c  in  the 
back  rix)m  himself,  but  it's  not  hkcly."' 

They  passed  throuKli  a  larfje  apartment  whose  chief 
ornament  was  a  huge  ol  painting  of  the  Hoss,  then  into 
a  further  room  c^^ntainin;,'  many  tables  with  groups  of 
politicians  round  them,  drinking. 

"Do  you  know  the  Mayor?"  whispered  McAllister's 
guide. 

"  No." 

"  Well,  he's  a  good  fellow,  and  if  the  Boss  is  available 
he"ll  fix  you  all  right.  Mr.  (Irady,  I'd  like  to  make  you 
acquainted  with  Mr.  Mc.Mlister  of  .McAllister,  Monro  & 
Co.  Say,  John,  Mr.  McAllister  waiitetl  to  see  His  Xibs. 
Could  you  arrange  it  for  him  ?  " 

The  Mayor  had  shovetl  back  his  chair  and  now  stood 
up.  He  shook  hands  cordially  and  expressed  pleasure  at 
the  introduction. 

"Won't  you  join  us,  Mr.  McAllister?  jfou  will,  I 
know,  Sanderson."' 

"  Well,  it's  not  in  my  day,  John.  but.  seeing  it's  you,  I 
don't  mind,"  replied  Sanderson  affably. 

"  I  never  take  anything,  thank  you, "  said  McAlhster. 

"  Well,  gentlemen,  just  excuse  me  a  minute.  Come 
this  way,  Mr.  McAllister." 

They  went  upstairs  to  a  door  that  was  guarded  by  a 
man  in  uniform,  but  he  gave  way  before  the  Mayor  and 
threw  open  the  door.  In  a  big  chair  tilted  back  with 
his  feet  on  the  table  sat  a  corpulent  man,  whose  heavy 
jowl  and  face  were  of  the  unhealthy  colour  of  paste ;  a 
man  who  drank  too  much,  smoked  too  much,  ate  too 
much  and  walked  too  little.  The  sight  of  him  brought 
no  recollection  to  McAllister,  save  that  which  comes 
from  meeting  in  the  flesh  one  whose  portrait  has  often 
been  seen  in-  print. 

A  group  of  men  occupied  various  positions  round  the 
table,  some  sitting  in  chairs,  others  astride  them,  chin 
resting  on  the  backs,  others  again  standing.  All  looked 
over  their  shoulders  as  the  Mayor  and  his  companion  en- 
tered. 


"Make  a  scarecrow  of  the  !a\v  "        531 


cn- 


Tlie  chief  was  rcli^jhtijifj  a  lialf-sinokcd  .ijrar. 
"Are   you   busy.    MaK'uiro?     Am    I    iiiiriKlinK' " 
quired  Grady. 

"  Not  at  all,"  cnknl  i\u-  IIons  ctrnliailv,  throwing:  away 
his  match,  niakiiij.;  a  bad  sjiut  at  an  uvor-fuU  spittoon. 
"  Come  rij,'ht  in.  John.     Aiiytliinj;  new  :-  " 

"No.  I  wanted  to  introduce  to  voii  Mr.  McAllister, 
who  dropiK'd  in  to  see  you." 

The  leaden  eye  of  tJie  Mo.^s  travelKd  over  the  new- 
comer, but,  if  dull,  it  was  an  eve  loii^'  accu.stonied  to 
measuriii}^  men  and  recoK'nisin^j  those  but  casually  met 
before.  The  feet  of  Ma«uire  fell  suddenly  from  table  to 
rtoor,  and  the  chair  stood  on  four  legs  insteil  of  fwo. 

"  What!  It  can't  be.  Do  you  tell  me  this  is  lie  ped- 
ler  of  Michigan?  The  boy  I  met  when  I  \va^  \i  imj,'  ,niid 
innocent  on  the  heifjlits  of  .\iui  .Xrbor?' 

"  Why— you're  never—"  stammered  Hen,  iinaliu^  10 
get  further. 

"  I'm  damned  if  it  isn't.  Well,  well,  well,  well,  if  this 
doesn't  beat  shootinjj  ducks,  as  the  old  woman  said." 

He  rose  with  difificulty  to  his  feet  and  smote  I'.en  a  ter- 
rific blow  on  the  back  with  his  open  palm. 

"  Come  and  sit  down.  Thank  you,  John,  for  brinpfinR 
in  an  old  friend — of  me  boyhood's  days.  C'lear  out  every 
mother's  son  of  you;  I'm  going-  to  have  a  talk  of  old 
times.     What'll  ye  drink?  " 

"  I  offered  him  the  hospitalities  of  the  clul)  down- 
stairs, Pat.  but  he  doesn't  drink."  .said  the  .Mayor,  as  the 
others  scuttled  for  the  door. 

"  Well,  well,  and  ye  haven't  got  over  that  yet.  It's  far 
I've  travelled  beyond  ye.  then,  for  I'm  beginning  to  take 
a  sup  with  the  rest  of  them,"  he  chuckled,  fatly,  while 
McAllister  stared  at  him.  trying  to  see  in  this  unwieldy 
form  any  attribute  of  the  clean-limbed  young  athlete  who 
had  so  easily  overcome  himself  and  friend  on  the  dusty 
road  of  Michigan. 

"  They're  waiting  for  me  downstairs."  said  the  Mayor, 
"  so  I'll  leave  you  two  together." 

"  All  right,  John.  Just  tell  tha  gossoon  at  the  door  to 
let  nobody  in.  Let's  see.  Your  name  wai-  Jim,  wasn't  it?  " 


'MS^- 


wm^m^^^ 


m^'T- 


id 


532 


The  Victors 
That    was    my    friend    Monro.     Ben    is    my 


"No. 
name." 

"  Ah,  yes,  so  it  was.  I  remember  now.  I  never  Uked 
the  other  fellow,  but  you  were  a  white  man  clear  throu,c:h. 
Well,  now,  it"s  nice  of  you  to  have  drojjped  in  to  see  an 
old  friend  this  way.  And  where  did  ye  settle  down  at 
last,  for  of  course  you're  not  peddling  now  ?  In  Detroit, 
I  suppose  ?  " 

"  No,  I'm  right  here  in  town.  I'm  head  of  McAllis- 
ter, Monro  &  Co.  on — "' 

"What!  That  big  place  on  Sixth  Avenue?  Well, 
strike  me  blind  if  this  isn't  a  queer  world !  " 

The  Boss  leaned  his  arms  on  the  table  and  gazed 
across  at  his  visitor,  radiating  good  nature  and  childish 
pleasure  at  the  encounter. 

"  Say,  you're  never  the  McAllister  that  built  that  fine 
house  up  Fifth  Avenue?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Well  if  that  doesn't  beat  pig-sticking !  And  you 
and  me  rolling  round  over  each  other  on  the  dirt  road 
out  West  without  a  cent  in  either  of  our  pockets.  Say, 
Ben,  this  is  a  great  country !  " 

"  It  is  that." 

"  And  why  the  devil  did  you  never  drop  in  on  a  man 
before  this  late  day?" 

"  Whv  didn't  you  drop  in  on  me?  " 

"  I  had  no  more  idea  than  the  man  in  the  moon  that 
you — " 

"  Neither  had  I  that  vou  were  the  Boss." 

"  Is  that  true  now?  Well,  well.  An' ye  came  in  just 
by  accident  like?  "' 

"  Yes.     On  business." 

"  Well  now  that's  strange, 
business  myself  a  while  ago. 
a  religious  cuss,  so  can  you  tell  me  who  was  that  fellow  i" 
the  B'ble  that  envied  the  otlier  man  his  possessions  aii<l 
did  a  dirty  trick  to  get  it  ?  I  disremember  him  al  the  niu- 
ment,  an'"  ye  were  always  glib  at  the  Scriptures." 

"David  with  Uriah's  wife  perhaps?" 

"  No,  no.     I'm  talking  about  real  estate  now." 


I  came  near  seeing  you  « 'ii 
You  used  to  be  a  kind  ot 


"  Make  a  scarecrow  of  the  law  "        533 

"  Maboths  vineyard  maybe." 

"  That's  it.  that's  it.     Well,  your  house  has  been  a  rei-- 
ular  Aaboth  s  vineyard  to  inc.     Vou  sec,  mv  wife  look  a 
fancy  to  it.     She  thought  it  'ud  be  a  fine  place  to  hold 
Christian  Science  matinees  in  and  to  lodf,a>  the  brethren 
and  sisters   when   they  came  to  town.     She's  ffreat  on 
Christian  Science.     I  say  to  her:     '  Cood  j^racious    isn't 
the  Windsor  Hotel  bij,-  eiiouffh   for  ve?     LodjT^  them 
there  for  the  srood  of  trade'     But  she' wants  a  liouse  of 
her  own,  an    she  wanted  that  house.     Well.  I  found  out 
It  wasn't  to  \)e  had.  for  a  Dutchman,  or  a  Jew.  or  some- 
body offered  you  thousands  above  what  it  cost,  an'  ve 
wouldn't  look  at  him.     That's  why  1  was  g-oiiifr  to  see 
you  on  business,  but  I  wasn't  gfoi„jr  to  pav  all  tne  hard- 
earned  savinjjs  in  no  such  profit  as  you  seemed  to  want. 
So  I'm  thinking  of  duplicatins^  the  place  further  up  tlie 
street,  an'  I  tell  you  I'm  not  stuck  on  the  job.  because  I've 
enough  trouble  on  my  shoulders  as  it  is.     iUit  I  got  even 
with  you,  for  I  told  the  boys  to  stick  vou  for  a  contril»u- 
tion  of  ten  thousand  dollars  to  Tammany.     Did  thev  do 
ut  ?  "  -^ 

"  They  did. " 

Maguire  threw  himself  back  in  his  chair  and  laughed 
riotously,  his  sides  shaking  like  earth(|uakes. 

"  Oh,  that's  rich.  Little  did  I  think  I  was  turning  down 
an  old  friend  who  lent  me  his  peddling  licence  when  I 
hadn't  one  of  me  own.  Well,  well.  I  know  why  ve 
called  to  see  mie  now.  Hen.  an'  its  all  right."  He  pressed 
the  button  and  the  doorkeeper  came  in.  "  Tell  Murchi- 
son  to  come  here  and  bring  the  assessment  book  with 
him." 

Presently  a  young  man  entered  carrving  a  huge  vol- 
ume. 

"  Turn  to  McAllister.  .Monro  &  Co  Wliafs  against 
them  .^  Ten  thousand,  is  it?  \'ery  well;  that's  marked 
off.  Divide  it  roui'd  among  all  those  that  haven't  paid 
up.  It'll  learn  'em  to  be  quick  at  settling.  .Ml  right 
now.  Ye  can  go.  See  that  there's  no  mistake,  and  that 
these  peo])le  are  not  Iiotliered  ai^ain.     That's  all." 

The  young  man  departed  with  his  air.cnded  book.  Ma- 


.'*  I  I  '.V'.      V  e   '•  '•   '  •».',    ■  t-i" 


534 


The  Victors 


guire  rubbed  his  thick  hands  together  gleefully,  for  all 
his  life  it  pleasured  him  to  oblige  a  friend.  "  We've 
wiped  that  off  the  slate,  an'  if  they  trouble  you  any  more 
just  you  come  to  me.  I'll  know  your  card  next  time  I 
see  it.  It's  a  fine  thing  to  be  generous  at  the  expense  of 
somebody  else,  and  now  that  I've  thrown  off  ten  thou- 
sand dollars  what'U  you  do  for  me  on  that  house— that  ■ 
Naboth's  vineyard?  'Or  won't  you  sell  it  at  all  at  all? 
Or  do  you  want  a  Jew's  profit?  " 

"  I'll  sell.  I  don't  want  anybody's  profit.  You  threw 
off  ten  thousand  dollars  without  my  asking;  now  I'll 
throw  off  ten  thousand  dollars  without  your  asking.  I'll 
show  you  all  the  bills,  and  take  ten  thousand  dollars  less 
than  the  place  cost  me." 

"  Indeed  vou'll  do  nothing  of  the  sort.  Your  ten 
thousand  dollars  is  your  own,  and  mine  was  somebody 
else's.  If  I  object  to  1>e  a  Jew  on  one  side  of  the  fence, 
I'm  not  going  to  be  a  Jew  on  the  other.  Im  an  honest 
dealer.     What  did  it  cost  you  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  exactly.  Nearer  four  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars  than  three  hundred  thousand.  The  papers 
are  all  in  the  safe  down  at  my  office.  You  see,  my  wife 
never  cared  for  the  place.  She  was  brought  up  in  a  cot- 
tage, and  has  no  use  for  a  palace." 

"  Do  vou  tell  me  that  now  ?  It's  funny  how  women 
differ.  My  wife  was  raised  in  a  farmhouse.  Begobs. 
you  know  her !  " 

"Mrs.  Maguire?     No.  I  don't." 
"  Thunder  and  turf,  you  do.     She  was  Lottie  Byfield. 
in  that  Michigan  farmhouse  we  stayed  at." 
"  Is  that  a  fact?     Then  I  remember  her  well." 
"  We  had  a  great  misfortune,  Ben ;  lost  our  two  chil- 
dren.    It  came  near  to  killing  Lottie ;  I  believe  it  would 
have  killed  her  if  it  hadn't  been  for  t'nis  Ch;  stian  Science 
she  took  up.     Do  ye  know  anything  about  that  now? 
"  No,  I  don't "  ^  ,   . 

"  Well,  it's  a  great  scheme.  I  don  t  understand  it 
thoroughly  myself,  but  it  means  that  nothing  much  mat- 
ters anyhow.  If  ve  get  a  kick  in  the  stomach  it  isn  t 
there  at  all,  but  on  somebody  else,  so  there's  no  use  m 


'uss.'me&sm 


"  Make  a  scarecrow  ot  the  law  "        535 

you  makinp:  a  fuss  alwut  it;  do  ye  see?  It's  a  mighty 
consoling  contraption,  but  it  never  eased  my  pain  anv  for 
the  loss  of  me  two  httle  kids,  an"  the  remembrance  comes 
over  me  like  a  wave  sometimes,  till  I  gasp  tor  breath,  an' 
in  the  most  unlikely  places,  too.  In  a  pohtical  meeting, 
or  when  I'm  making  a  si)e'.'ch,  1  hear  their  voices  behind 
me,  although  I'm  thinking  of  something  else,  and  I  turn 
sharply  round,  but  I  see  nothing,  because  there's  noth- 
ing there,  or  because  my  eyes  are  not  i-  condition.  It's 
a  long  time  ago  now.  but  their  voices  get  clearer  instead 
of  fading  away,  as  one  might  think,  an'  perhaps  that's 
because  my  health's  kind  of  broke.  I'll  die  in  the  good 
old  Catholic  faith,  Ik-n.  when  me  time  conies,  and  i)urga- 
tory  will  melt  out  of  me  all  that's  nf>t  fit  for  their  com- 
pany, an'  I'll  see  the  kids  again.  Poor  little  souls!  they 
needed  no  touch  of  it;  they  got  their  purgatory  as  they 
left,  an",  please  God.  it  was  short  an'  tliey  knew  nothing 
of  it."  The  heavy  throat  thicker. .•1,  the  Boss  left  his 
chair  and  walked  to  the  window,  looking  out  for  a  few 
moments.  I'en  sat  there  in  silence,  not  knowing  what 
to  say,  dimly  remembering  the  tragedy.  Maguiro  was 
the  first  to  s])eak. 

"  Ah,  well,  we  were  talking  of  new  houses  and  modern 
things.  One  gets  rambling  here  and  there  when  they 
meet  an  old  friend.  An'  so  ye're  a  married  man.  Well, 
I  know  one  thing,  you're  a  good  husbr.nd.  ^'our  wife 
should  be  a  happy  woman,  (iod!  ^'ou're  not  like  me. 
keepin'  the  papers  from  her  so  siie'll  not  see  what  other 
folks  think  of  me." 

"  I  don't  supjwse  any  of  us  are  as  go<jd  husbands  as 
we  ought  to  be,"  said  I5en  dolefully. 

"  An'  that's  true  for  ye.  Remember,  I'm  not  admitting 
for  a  moment  that  everything  the  papers  say  of  me  is 
gospel  fact.  It's  not.  I  l)elieve  in  honesty  in  politics. 
an'  if  this  country  wants  that  same,  let  it  begin.  It  isn't 
for  the  poor  office-holder  to  begin.  He's  chucked  in  an' 
he's  chucked  out,  an'  his  honesty  ;.•  counted  neither  in  his 
appointment  or  his  dismissal.  .\  coantrv  gels  just  what 
it  deserves;  just  what  it  pays  for.  A  mans  first  duty  is 
to  his  wife  and  family.     If  he  knows  that,  no  matter  how 


r.  * 


536 


The  Victors 


hard  he  works  for  his  country,  or  his  city,  or  his  town, 
no  matter  how  honest  he  is.  he'll  be  tired  at  the  fir.t 
change  of  administration ;  he'd  be  a  fool  n<jt  to  take  wnat 
he  can  get  while  he's  got  the  chance.     The  people  are 
j-wing  him;  why  shouldn't  he  jew  them?     Do  you  know 
there's  not  an  embassy  in  the  gift  of  the  United  States 
that  a  poor  man  dare  take,  because  the  place  will  cost  him 
from  three  to  ten  times  more  than  his  salary?     Is  that 
honest  of  ths  country?     Is  it  democratic?     T  say  it  is 
not.     The  New  York'Oniral  railroad  pays  some  of  is 
chiefs  more  than  the  Presidrnt  o^  the  States  gets.  It  pen- 
sions its  good  men  when  they  are  too  old  to  \vc*rk.     It 
never  asks  a  man  whether  he  is  democrat  or  republican, 
but  is  he  fit  for  the  place.    It  don't  bounce  a  man  because 
Tones  insf.'^:d  of  Smith  bob,  up  in   Washington.     \\  by 
should  this  countrv  be  less  sane  and  less  honest  than  the 
Vanderbi'ts?     If  Xew  York  had  said  to  me.  '  Here,  Pat. 
you're  a  man  (.^f  brains.     If  ye  work  for  the  city  ye  can  t 
expect  to  make  a  fortune  like   Mc.Mlister.    f.ir  he   has 
nothing  else  to  do.  but  we'll  sec  that  neither  you  nor  your 
wife  wants  for  anvthing.     We'll  give  you  ten  thousand 
dollars  a  year,  an'  the  half  cf  that  when  you're  used  up. 
Why  it  'ud  'a'  had  the  m(«t  capable  man  and  the  most 
honest  man  in  the  United  States.     P.ut  instead  of  that  it 
gave  me  two  thousand  dollars  a  year  and  threw  me  out 
when  another  man  wanted  the  place.     Then  I  was  liKo 
the  fellow  in  Ireland  when  he  saw  the  pile  of  fish  on  th. 
dock,  and  he  being  the  thief  of  the  town  the  owner  said. 
'  Mike    111  give  you  sixpence  to  leave  them  fish  alone. 
Mike  walked  round  the  pile,  looked  at  it,  ^shmik  his  head 
and   said.  '  Thank   you,    I   can  do  better.      That  s   what 
I  sav  to  Xew  York." 

"  Hut  he  stole  the  fish."  ,     r    >    ,  1 

"  He  took  what  he  needed.  I  daresay.  So  do  1,  Dut  1 
don't  call  it  stealing.  It's  getting  what  my  brams  entiil. 
me  to.  And  I  give  good  value  for  the  money.  Xew 
York  is  to-dav  the  best  governed  city  in  the  whole  worli. 
There  is  no  place  on  earth  where  a  man  has  a  bettci 
chance  to  get  along;  where  he  can  make  more  money, 
an'  you  sit  there  an  example  of  what  I  say. ' 


"Make  a  scarecrow  of  the  law"         537 

"I  don't  know  alxiut  that,  Mr.  Ma.i^uire.  I  sit  here- 
for  the  purpose  of  prnvin','-  to  you  the  contrary.  I  did 
not  come  to  see  y(ju  about  that  ten  thou.saud  or  about  the 
house.  I  came  to  you,  who  have  no  ofticial  connection 
with  the  city,  because  I  am  t  .Id  evervwherc  that  the 
usual  channels  of  justice,  which  should  be  open  to  all 
citizens,  rich  or  poor,  are  practically  clo>td  to  those 
without  a  pull.  I  sit  here  because  my  partner,  .Monro,  the 
person  you  do  not  like,  lies  at  tlie  ponit  of  death  in 
Compton  Hospital,  clul)bed  into  insanity  by  the  captain 
and  his  men  at  Oswald  Street  police  station.  Arrested 
on  a  trumped-up  char,c:e.  jirobably  because  lie  reiitsed  to 
pay  that  ten  tliousand.  manliandled.  left  insensible  and 
crushed  all  ni.t,dit  in  a  cell  without  water  or  attendance, 
let  out  on  bail  next  morning:,  bail  for  a  crime  he  had  not 
committed,  turned  (jn  the  streets  to  die,  if  it  so  chanced, 
he  stappcred  ravin^j:  into  the  house  of  a  stranjrer.  and 
thus  got  first  succour.  There  is  the  work  of  your  free 
city,   Mr.   Mapuire." 

The  Uoss  sat  back  during-  this  recital,  a  thunder-cloud 
gatherinpf  on  his  brow,  a  .c^lcam  of  almost  liindish  an,u:er 
darkly  liji;htin^-  his  heavy  eyes.  When  the  i^hastly  cata- 
lojjue  was  finished  he  lirokc  into  a  torrent  of  (laths,  ter- 
rible to  hear,  until  McAllister  shrank  appalled  in  his 
seat.  ]\Ia,s^uire  seized  ihe  crank  of  a  telephone  which 
apparently  led  to  police  headquarter-  and  turned  the 
handle  savagely.  "  Where's  the  chief  \  Send  the  chief 
to  the  'phone  at  once.  LiM)k  licre,  chief — that  you? 
How  about  Monro  fanned  at  (  )swal(l  ."Street  station? 
What!  Resisted  arrest?  Resi.sled  hell!—!  know  the 
man.  Haven't  your  damned  ruffian;  any  brains  but 
what  they  can  club  out  ^f  another  man's  head?  You 
know  I  won't  jiave  that  sort  of  thing,  and  it  isn't  the  first 
time.  Now  vou  act  at  once.  I)i>miss  every  .-cullion 
there.  Arrest  the  cai)tain  and  e\ery  one  who  ra'sed  a 
club,  and  see  that  they're  railroaded  where  tliey  I>elon,^-. 
What?  It's  Ma,q;uire,  that's  who  i*:  is.  and  don't  make 
any  mistake  about  it  eitlier.  r)li,  I  don't  want  any  apolo- 
ogies.  You  jump,  that's  all,  and  iiave  those  nieii  in  the 
cells  within  half  an  hour." 


538 


The  Victors 


m 


He  hung  up  the  receiver  and  seemed  fo  subside  rath< 
than  sit  down  in  his  big  chair,  the  excitement  disappeai 
ing  as  suddenly  as  it  had  arisen,  leaving  his  face  a  mo 
tied  chalk  colour.  He  drew  his  handkerchief  across  h 
brow  and  breathed  with  labour. 

"That's  the  material  we  have  to  work  with.  Ben.  an 
it's  poor  stuff  and  bad  stuff.  It  breaks  my  heart  to  hca 
what  you  say.  Sure  I  had  no  feeliner  against  the  poc 
man.  an'  when  I  said  I  didn't  like  him.  that's  long  pas 
and  I  know  nothing  of  him.     Is  he  badly  hurt^" 

"  Yes." 

"  The  murdering  scoundrels.  Put  a  pig  in  a  parloui 
an'  he's  still  a  pig.  I'd  like  to  pay  all  expenses  and  giv 
what  compensation — " 

"  Oh,  there's  no  need  of  that.  You've  done  more  tha 
I  looked' for." 

"  Well,  as  the  Christian  Scientists  say,  there's  Httle  us 
worrying,  but  I'll  have  the  pravers  of  a  church  tha 
amounts  to  something  put  up  for  him,  an'  that's  all  I  cai 
do.  Let's  hope  for  the  best  an'  be  prepared  for  thi 
worst.  I  mustn't  get  wrought  up  like  this.  I'm  not  th( 
man  I  used  to  be.  wh.-n  forty  rod  couldn't  phase  me 
Let's  talk  about  the  house.     You'll  sell?  " 

"  Yes.  Would  it  be  cash  down,  or  when  could  I  ge 
the  money  ?  " 

"  To-morrow  if  yon  like;  to-day  if  you  need  it." 

"  Any  time.  1  lie  iiouse  is  furnished  throughout.  1 
suppose  you'd  want  to  furnish  it  yourself,  but  it  ha^ 
never  been  occupied."' 

That'll  be  as  the  missus  says.  It  'ud  suit  me  all 
right  as  it  is.     Can  we  go  throuqli  it  now?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Well,  I'll  just  telephone  Mrs.  Maguire  to  be  ready 
for  us.     My  carriage  is  at  the  door." 

"  Here  is  the  key." 

"You're  coming  with  us?" 

"  I  think  not.  You  and  Mrs.  Maguire  can  discuss  the 
matter  better  alone." 

"  Nonsense.  I  want  you  to  meet  Lottie.  You'll  not 
know  hei       She's  young  in  the  face,  but  her  hair  is  as 


"  Make  a  scarecrow  of  the  law  "        539 

white  as  the  driven  snow,  which  is  something  I  lell  her 
she's  not  entitled  to  for  years  vet      ( )h    r.J.      i  " 

we'll  settle  the  job  in  two  m' nut."  -       '  '^'"'  ''°"S:.  an 

tan^'tn  "v'""  ''"''r'"!'  ^'  '^''  '^'■'^l^'^^^^  ^^'^^  tcx>  impor- 
tant to  be  jeopanhscd  by  any  sentimental  reluctance 

They  found  Mrs.  Ma^mire  uaitinj^  for  them   a  placid 
happy,  wh.te-haired  woman.  an<l  i„  her  kind  eyes       k    i 

pride  of  him,  deep  atlfection  for  him  were  to  he  jjathere. 
from  the  gaze  she  rarelv    withdrew  from  him   ^?    took 

oi  McAlhsTe    T.  ''r  '"'  "'^^'^^  •^••■"'^^'^=^'  remembr  n 
ot  McAllister   but  she  greeted  him  sweetly.     He  wa.  a 

friend  of  her  husbaml.  and  that  was  his  passport  She 
mtroduced  to  him  Mrs.  LeCrue.  a  smiling  lady'frl  Do.;, 
ton,  who  was  staymg  witli  her. 

"Don't  talk  politics."  Maguire  had  whisix^rcd  to  him 
but  there  was  no  need  for  the  caution.     The  subject     as 

nfrii       c^    '■"''    was  high    in  the    confidence   of    the 
Christian  Scientists,  had  been  a  martyr  in  the-cause.  an<l 

^.1  K  •i!^""'^  'T""',  ""  '^""'^^  ^  treasured  member;  she 
had  bu.lt  severa    churches  f.,r  the  order,  including  one 
n  her  own  district  ,n  Michigan,  where  there  was  not  a 
Christian  Scientist  m  a  dav's  ride. 

Arriving  at  the  deserted  mansion.  McAllister  opened 
the  heavy  door  for  them  with  a  feeling  akin  to  that 
which  characterises  a  su[.erstitious  person  entering  a 
haunted  house.  They  all  came  in  exclaiming  at  the 
beauty  and  breadth  of  the  liall. 

"     What  a  perfect  plac  for  a  meeting!  "  said  the  .smiling 
Airs.  LeCTrue.  clasi)ing  her  hands.     "  \\'I,v.  there's  even 

a  pipe  organ  at  the  furtlior  side." 

But  McAllister  was  not  listening  to  eulogv.     Mo  had 

picked  up  a  letter  that  lay  on  the  floor,  probablv  shoved 

under  the  door,  and  was  turning  it  over  and  over  in  his 

hands. 

"Come  along,  girls."  he  heard  Maguire  shout  boister- 
ously, "  and  let  Ben  read  his  corrcsjwndence." 

The  letter  was  postmarked  "  Mauch  Chunk  "  and  had 
been  addressed : 


m 


I. 


540  The  Victors 

Miss  Constance  Frasf.r. 

Care  Mrs.   McAllister, 
Holland  House, 

New  York  City. 

dey^aX'h.^Vn'  ^°'''.  '?^  ^^^"  "^^'^^^^  ^ut  by  tli 

(lav  after  h    u  "^  P'^f''^'^  showed  that  it  arrived    h 
ore  It  ooen      W  ^"V^''  'TP^>'  '^""«^-     Tremblingfy  h 

Jr;;i^''jLo^:Ai:;:tl;.aS^'^^"^^-^^^ 

■'  129  Carbon  Avenue, 
'<rk„       Tkr       T,  "  Mauch  Chunk    Penn 

the  drivers   know  our  house.     The   chi  dren   ar,  n,™ 
tillTe  h'  h"  '"7.  "™.  •=°""""'  -<i  I  am  ^reTo" 
.o'",iL'„gers''irfirs'.*'"'^  '"^  P'"'  '^^"^  =  «"'^  S"™^ 

"Yours  faithfully, 

"  Blanche  Richardson." 

Somebody  was  speaking  to  him ;  he  heard  the  voice  as 
a  submerged  man,  with  the  roaring  of  waters  n  hZl'J! 
hears  a  shout  from  the  shore.  ^  ^^"' 

']  What— what  did  you  say  ?  " 

"  Say  ?    I  say  this  house  is  immense :  suits  m*.  Hn.vn  f^ 

T:iZ;.tz\:r::„!:i\^^7:^'  -™-  e>-  are 


CHATTER   IX 


"Wnv,     THEN,    LKT  S     HOME     Ad.MX  " 

A  YEAR  before,  ^^cAllistc■r  would  have  taken  the  first 
train  to  Mauch  Chunk  and  pone  direct  in  the  house  of 
Mr.  Richardson.  He  would  have  consulted  a  time-table, 
estimated  the  distance  between  the  stati(jn  and  Carbon 
Avenue,  thus  concluding  ins  mission  in  the  fewest  ntnn- 
ber  of  minutes  possible.  \o\v,  as  he  had  confessed  to 
the  Boss,  he  was  "  scared,"  his  nerve  was  i.,'one ;  the  most 
capable  railway  enj^^ineer  who  has  been  throusrh  a  wreck 
is  useless  until  he  has  had  time  to  recover  contidence. 

Ren  went  to  a  hotel  in  Mauch  Chunk,  reconnoitred 
the  house  in  Carbon  Avenue  as  cautiously  as  a  modern 
Sreneral  planning  an  assault,  twice  or  twice  gathered  cour- 
age to  attack,  but  on  each  occasion  his  resolution  failed 
and  he  passed  on  as  if  he  were  the  most  casual  wavfarer. 
He  thought  of  waiting  to  his  wife  from  the  hotel,  but 
feared  she  would  take  alarm  and  be  elsewhere  to  seek. 
He  dreaded  to  face  another  disheartening  campaign  of 
fruitless  search,  and  so  was  timid  lest  he  should  make 
a  mistake  of  tactics  now,  when  a  meeting  seemed  inevi- 
table. The  meeting  came,  as  it  was  bound  to  come,  but 
through  chance  and  not  as  a  result  of  his  designing.  He 
saw  her  walking  along  the  crowded  pavement,  tried  to 
summon  a  fitting  phrase  to  accost  her,  but  coiild  not,  and 
merely  stood  there,  his  mind  in  chaos,  until  she  came  up, 
and  then  mechanically  he  .stejjped  in  front  of  her. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon."  she  said,  attempting  to  pass  on 
the  other  side.  He  reached  forward  and  touched  her 
arm.  when  she  raised  her  eyes  in  momentary  alarm  and 
looked  at  him. 

"  O  Ben,  have  you  been  ill  ?  "  she  cried,  grasping  his 
hand. 

"  No,  Connie,  no.     Xex'T  better,  never  better." 

54£ 


542 


The  Victors 


He  drew  her  hand  under  his  ami  and  walked  on  in  the 
direction  she  was  goinjj,  neither  of  them  ^peakinj;  for  a 
few  moments. 

"  Ar^  you  happy  in  that  place.  Connie,  at  your  old 
profession  ?  " 

"As  happy  as  a  woman  oujfht  to  he  who  has  deserted 
her  hushand.     Were  you  happy  to  be  rid  of  me?" 

"No.  Mi.serahle.  lUit  I'm  happy  now  that  Tve 
found  you.  I've  only  heen  at  my  otifice  twee  since  you 
left :  once  the  other  morninj.;^.  and  once  a  month  or  two 
ago." 

"Then  yc  .  have  been  ill?" 

"No;  I've  been  travelling:  West  mostlv.  Here  and 
there.  Say,  Connie.  I  must  have  a  .talk  with  vou.  Will 
you  come  to  mv  hotel;  we  cant  converse  here  iti  the 
street  ?  " 

She  stopped  and  glanced  at  her  watch,  then  up  at  him 
with  a  smile.  "  You  gave  me  this  watch.  Do  vou  re- 
member?" 

"  Yes,  but  I  hope  you  are  not  looking  at  it  to  tell  me 
you  haven't  time  to  talk  with  me." 

"  That  would  he  a  change  in  our  parts,  wouldn't  it, 
Ben?  I  was  just  .seeing  if  it  was  too  late  for  a  train. 
We  have  time  if  we  walk  sharplv." 

"  What !  To  New  York  ?  Will  you  go  to  New  York, 
Connie?  " 

"  In  the  opposite  direction.  Tien." 

"  (Jh."  His  tone  fell  to  the  minor  kev  again,  disap- 
pointment in  the  inflection.  They  walked  on  rapidly  in 
silence,  and  at  the  ticket  office  she  had  purclujsed  two 
tickets  before  he  thought  of  offer'ng  to  do  so.  He 
seemed  quite  satisfied  that  she  should  lead,  he  following 
with  docile  concurrence.  This  was  strange  io  her.  and 
she  was  not  sure  that  she  liked  it.  I-'or  months  past 
none  had  cared  whether  she  did  this  or  that ;  there  had 
been  no  one  to  take  the  liberty  of  brushing  aside  her  own 
inclinations,  as  if  from  the  beginning  of  time  it  had  been 
ordained  that  his  will  should  I-e  paramount,  unques- 
tioned. The  freedom  from  all  this  should  have  been  a 
boon  to  be  prized  above  everything,  yet  somehow  she 


I've 


'*  Why,  then  let's  home  attain  "  543 

found  herself  ycarniufj  for  tlu'  fornicr  McAllister, 
genially  ovcrbcariiijj.  ratlu-r  than  tin  niiiiaturally  patient 
man  beside  her,  nervously  atixioiis  to  i»leasw'.  She  missed 
the  old  Confident  rinj^'  in  his  voice;  tin-  air  of  decision; 
the  feelinj^f.  after  all,  of  heinj,'  protected,  cared  for.  She 
ha<l  often  pictured  their  nieetiniL;,  knouint;  he  woidd  find 
her  if  he  set  his  mind  to  the  task  ;  he  acconiplislicd  every- 
thinj^.  and  any  attempt  on  her  i)art  to  elude  him  for  loiijj 
was  ho])eless  She  liad  fancied  him  appr(iacliinj.j  in 
haste,  graspinjj^  Iut  hy  the  inn.  sayiujj;^  j^ood  naturedly. 
but  finally:  "Hello,  CoiMm-;  Itov,  are  you?  We've 
had  enouj.,di  of  this  nonsense.  Come  home."  and  it  was 
likely  she  would  have  j^due.  swept  away  In  the  habit  of 
deferring  to  him.  lUit  she  had  been  emirely  un|)repared 
for  the  McAllister  who  at  last  accosted  her.  who  fallowed 
unprotestin.:  where  she  orderetl,  who  sn^,i.j;este(l  the  hes- 
itatinjj  manner  of  ;i  convalescent,  not  \et  sure  of  his  fiet 
on  firm  j^ruund.  This  brou,L'ht  her  always  to  the  belief 
that  he  had  been  ill,  in  spite  of  his  di>>claimer.  If  he  had 
not  been  ill,  t'-  was  the  chanj^e  inexplicable,  and  a 
straufje  apprehension  filled  hi  t  heart,  akin  to  the  fear  of 
those  who  have  once  had  experienct.'  of  an  earthquake, 
and  who  never  after  retrain  coufideuii-  in  the  stability  of 
the  solid  world.  If  the  invariably  successful  llenjamin 
McAllister  lost  his  masterfidness.  in  whom  then  could 
she  look  foi  it  ? 

They  took  rheir  ])laves  totjetlur  in  the  train,  and  the 
journey  proved  short.  They  were  the  only  pas>eng-ers 
who  fjot  out  at  a  way  station  ni  the  .i4;orj4e,  and  she  led 
him  by  a  path  up  the  denselv  woodrd  moimtain.  J^own 
the  hill  poured  a  crystal  foruuintj  torrent,  in  strikinef  con- 
trast to  the  larjTfer  aniber-coloureil  river,  up  which  the 
railway  had  conveyed  them.  The  ])ath,  now  on  one  side. 
now  on  the  other  of  the  various  cascades,  crossed  the 
stream  here  and  there  by  rustic  bridy;es,  with  here  and 
there  a  seat.  Sometimes  it  passed  under  a  waterfall,  the 
shimmerinj?  Ii(|uid  ve'l  subduinpf  the  li.y;ht  and  addinyf  a 
delicious  coolness  to  the  transit.  Deep  d;irk  p(M>ls  seemed 
stations  of  rest,  and  racing'  rapids,  whose  spray-lashed, 
obstinate    jagged    rocks    tore  the  water  with    u{)-tlung 


MICROCOPY   RESOLUTION   TiST  CHART 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


^   |3j2 
Li    _ 

1^ 

m 

1^ 

^    ^IPPLIED  IN/MGE    Inc 


1653  Eost  Mam  Street 

Rochester,    Ne»   York        U609       USA 

(715)  *82  -  0300  -  Phone 

(716)  288-  5989  -Fax 


544 


The  Victors 


showers,  were  typical  of  action.  The  whole  secluded 
stairway  was  embowered  with  rhododendrons  and  luxu- 
rious shrubbery,  foam-fed  and  dew-sprinkled,  while  over 
all  arched  the  primeval  forest  with  glimpses  of  a  blue, 
cloud-flecked  sky.  roofing  the  sylvan  retreat.  She 
brought  him  to  a  quiet  arbour  perched  high  above  their 
starting  point,  the  sound  of  roaring  water  subdued  to  a 
soothing  rhythm  through  the  mass  of  whispering  leaves. 
They  sat  down  together  on  a  bench. 

"  There,  Ben,  I  present  to  you  Glen  Onoko,  and  we 
have  it  entirely  to  ourselves.  Often  it  is  alive  with  ex- 
cursionists, but  to-day  we  own  it  as  the  Indians  did,  al- 
though they  had  no  such  modern  improvements  as  seats, 
bridges,  steps  and  a  footpath.     What  do  you  think  of 

it?"  , 

"  It  is  beautiful,  Connie ;  I  had  no  idea  so  smoky  a 
town  as  Mauch  Chunk  had  such  a  dell  in  its  vicinity,  al- 
though I  have  often  passed  through  the  place,  flying  on 
the  fast  express.'' 

"  The  fast  express !  Yes,  it  goes  by,  and  those  who 
live  on  it  see  little  of  what  is  on  either  side  of  them,  but 
they  do  get  to  their  destination  quickly." 

"  Ah,  Connie,  that's  a  rap  at  me,  isn't  it  ?  It's  like  a 
sentence  out  of  your  letter.     I  thought  it  a  hard  letter.' 

"  I'm  afraid  it  was.  Still,  you  should  make  allowance 
for  the  circumstances  in  which  it  was  written.  If  one 
who  commits  a  crime  chooses  to  set  forth  his  reasons 
when  the  deed  is  done,  I  don't  suppose  he  writes  very 
coherently." 

"  Connie,  you  did  care  for  me  once,  didn't  you?  " 

"  Oh,  yes." 

"When  did  you  cease  to  care  for  me?" 

'•  You  never  found  that  in  the  letter.  A  woman  who 
had  ceased  to  care  would  have  stayed  to  enjoy  the  new 
house.'" 

"  A  woman  can't  care  for  a  man  and  leave  him." 

"Cant  she?" 

"  It  doesn't  seem  reasonable.  Deeds  speak  louder 
than  words." 

"  I'm  not  sure  that  they  do." 


"  Why,  then,  let's  home  again  "         545 

"  Certainly  they  do.     Talk  is  cheap." 
"  So  is  air.     Yet  it  is  impossible  to  live  without  it." 
"  You   surely   knew   that   tny   wliole   life's   work   was 
simply  devotion  to  you ;  that  I  valued  success  only  to  lay 
it  at  your  feet." 

"  You  never  told  me  so." 
"Did  it  need  the  telling?" 

"  It  needed  more  than  the  telling,  or  the  telhnp: 
should  have  been  reiterated  very  often  to  have  been 
convincing.  Why,  Ben,  there  were  times  v»hen  you 
forgot  my  very  existence  for  says  and  weeks.  You 
were  wholly  absorbed  in  your  business.  You  should 
not  onlv  have  told  me,  but  you  should  have  given  as 
much  thought  to  the  place  and  the  manner  of  celling 
as  you  gave  to  the  placating  of  some  capitalist  from  whom 
you  expected  to  obtain  money,  for  1  doubt,  latterly,  i!  the 
telling  alone  would  have  persuaded  me  of  its  truth.  You 
should  have  brought  me  to  a  spot  like  this,  as  I  led  you 
just  now,  and  then  said  all  these  things  were  for  me,  and 
I  should  have  been  pleased  to  hear  it,  not  because  I 
cared  for  the  things,  but  because— because  I  cared  for 
you — and  you  were  with  me." 

"  Connie,  why  didn't  you  speak?  Why  did  you  let  me 
eo  on  and  on  for  years  and  never  say  a  word?  I  m  not 
finding  fault,  you  know,  but  why— why  ?  " 

"  What  I  wanted  had  to  come  spontaneously,  or  it  was 
of  no  value  in  my  eyes.  It  could  not  be  bargained  for— 
extorted  I  might  have  worried  a  lit'le  attention  from 
vou.  perhaps,  but  vou  would  have  given  the  attention  as 
you  gave  me  the  nione,,  I-demanded.  You  would  for- 
get next  day.  as  you  have  forgotten  that-I  dd  speak. 
Do  you  remember  when  I  proposed  a  little  trip  up  the 
Hudson— not  a  whole  day,  of  course,  but  a  sail  in  the 
evening?  You  thought  it  an  excellent  idea,  and  advised 
me  to  go  alone  and  stay  all  night.  You  would  go  to  a 
hotel  in  New  York.  You  didn't  remember  that  proposal 
long  enough  to  ask  me  ever  after  if  I  had  gone,  so  now  I 
inform  you  that  I  didn't  go."  " 

Ben  made  no  replv;  he  was  industriously  cutting  a 
notch  with  his  pocket-knife  in  the  arm  of  the  seat. 
.35 


546 


The  Victors 


1 


I 


I  must  confess  that  when  one  puts  it  into  words 

looks  like  a  case  of  petty  feminine  jcalousv,  and  I  don 

suppose  since  the  world  be^an  a  woman  ever  had  as 

rival  a  block  of  buildings,  but  I  have  often  pone  ar 

looked  at  that  place  on  Sixth  Avenue  with  hatred  in  n: 

heart  against  it,  saying,  'You  hold  my  husband  with 

grip  1  cannot  unloosen.     His  thoughts,  sleeping  or  wal 

ing,  are  of  you.'     Once  as  I  stood  on  the  opposite  sicl 

of  the  street,  watching  the  crowds  pouring  in  and  poui 

ing  out,  I  was  filled  with  wonder  and  amazement    i 

spite  of  my  envy,  that  all  this  centre  of  activity  had  bee 

created  practically  by  one  man,  in  one  fraction  of  a  .shoj 

lifetime;  you  came  hurrying  out.     I  recognii,ed  you  a 

once.  Ben,  in  all  that  mob.     You  came  at  a  gallop  acros 

the  street,  nearly  knocking  me  down,  as  in  your  hast 

you    ran    against    me;    but    you  never    noticed    me 

watched  you  through  the  plate  glass  of  the  restaurant 

standing  by  a  counter,  not  having  a  meal,  but  gulpini 

down  some  food,  whatever  happened  to  be  nearest  you 

hand,  and  I  wondered  who  had  told  you  you  were  hun 

gry.  You  never  would  have  thought  of  it  vourself.  Thei 

out  again  and  away  across  to  vour  office'.     Alwavs  th( 

office,  the  office,  the  office!     I  don't  suppose  you  wil 

understand  my  jealousy  of  it,  but  if  you  put  a  woman  ir 

Its  place,  then  perhaps  you  will  comprehend." 

Suppose  it  had  been  a  woman,"  said  Ren,  looking  ut 
from  his  carving.  "  Suppose  I  had  been  as  devoted  tc 
i^nother  woman  as  I  was  to  my  work,  what  would  voi 
have  done  ?  "  ^ 

"  Just  what  I  did  do.  I  should  have  left  vou  to  enjo> 
each  others  company,  but  I  shouldn't  have  written  vou 
a  letter."  ^ 

"  Is  that  awful  letter  to  be  regarded  as  a  hopeful  sign 
after  all  ?  r-  *, 

"^  Perhaps  it  is." 

"  Now,  Connie,  if  such  a  thing  could  be  imagined  as 
you  becoming  interested  in  another  man.  do  you  know 
what  I  would  do?'  I'd  slaughter  him.  if  that  were  nec- 
essary, and  I'd  take  you  by  the  shoulders  and  give  you 
a  thorough  shaking.    I'd  say :    '  Here,  now,  vou  behave 


"Why,  then,  let's  home  again  "        547 

yourself ! '     But  you  couldn't  do  anything  on  this  earth 
that  would  make  me  abandon  you." 

"  The    inference    is    then    that    you — that    vou     care 
more — " 

"  Love  is  the  word.  Connie." 
"  That  you  love  me  more  than  I  love  you  " 
"  I  think  I  do." 

"  I  came  to  believe  that  you  d:d  not  understand  the 
meaning  of  the  word,  Ben.  Why,  if  I  loved  a  person 
I  should  delight  to  lure  him  oflf  to  some  beautiful  place 
like  this;  to  converse  with  him  and  be  with  him  alone. 
When  have  we  ever  seen  any  quiet  spot  outside  New 
York  since  we  were  married?  Do  you  remember  on  our 
wedding  journey  when  the  train  stopped  for  ten  minutes 
at  a  wooden  platform  overlooking  Niagara  Falls?  I 
always  think  of  that  ten  minutes  as  our  honeymoon ;  you 
stood  beside  me.  Ben,  and  pointed  out  the  islands  and  the 
rapids.  You  had  seen  them  all  before,  while  I  hadn't, 
and  never  once  during  that  ten  minutes  did  you  glance  at 
your  watch.  You  think  me  foolish  in  remembering  little 
things,  I  know." 

"  I  don't.  Life  is  made  up  of  li*  e  .^ings,  I  suppose. 
How  curious  it  is  that  we  are  engaged  at  this  moment 
in  a  contest  as  to  which  cares  most  for  the  other.  And 
yet  we  have  been  separated.  Connie.  Are  you  glad  to 
see  me  now,  or  were  you  sorrj-  that  I  found  you  ?  " 

"  Very,  very  glad." 

"  Would  you  have  cone  back  to  me  of  your  own  ac- 
cord if  I  hadn't  found  vou?' 

"  No." 

"  You  are  happv    "here  vou  are,  then  ?  " 

"  No." 

"  Well,  I  don't  understand  women ;  that's  all  about  it. 
If  I  were  unhappy  and  wanted  to  see  a  person  and 
knew  where  he  was,  I'd  go  to  him  by  the  quickest  train 
that  would  take  me." 

"  Have  you  reallv  been  searching  for  me  ever  since?  " 

"  Was  it  a  detective  discovered  where  I  lived  ? " 
"  I  engaged  no  detective.    No  living  soul  knows  what 
happened.    I  spoke  to  none  about  it." 


The  Victors 

"Not  even  Jim? 

"  Not  even  Jim,  poor  old  Jim.  ,  ,  .  ,  ,       ,  „ 

"  Why  do  vou  say  that  in  such  a  doleful  tone . 

Then  came'the  story  of  his  wanderinpfs ;  of  the  dang« 
to  the  business ;  of  the  disaster  to  Monro.  She  hstene 
absorbed,  gazing  intently  at  him  during  the  first  part  ( 
the  recital ;  then  with  bowed  head  during  the  remaimk 

"  Lien,  Ben,  what  a  wretch  you  make  me  out  to  be . 
she  moaned  without  looking  up. 

"  Dear  girl,  I  haven't  even  mentioned  you,  ni 
thought  of  attributing  blame  to  you.    It  was  all  my  fat 

— most  of  it."  ,  „ 

"  What  a  selfish,  abominable  creature  I  am ! 
"  Nonsense.  Connie.     No,  no.     If  you  will  consent 

eive  me  dnother  trial  I'll  do  my  best—" 
"  Oh   oh   oh—"  she  covered  her  face  with  her  han 

and  wept  without  making  further  answer  to  his  appe 

but  when  he  put  his  arm  around  her  and  drew  her  towa 

him  there  was  no  resistance. 


Ill 


i  clanger 

listened 

t  part  of 

mainder. 

to  be !  " 

■ou,    nor 
my  fault 


Dnsent  to 


ler  hands 
is  appeal, 
;r  toward 


CHAPTER    X 

"with  their  t()N(;ui:s  doom  mkn  to  df.ath  " 

There   was  a   plot  hatched   at   the   Aboriginal   Club 
which  differed  from  any  that  had  ever  iK-fnre  come  to 
maturity  in  tiiat  political  stronj^hold,  for  its  object  was 
the  rescue  of  a  man  enmcsbcd  in  a  silken  net,  the  slen- 
der strands  of  wbich  proved  stout  as  steel  a.t,Minst  the 
assaults  of  united  Tammany,  tlie  most  powerful  orj^an- 
isation  the  city  had  ever  seen.     The  iron  K'overnment  of 
New  York  was  set  at  naught  by  a  little,  smiling  woman, 
who  held  to  her  rights  and  defied  Mayor  or  city  official- 
dom to  budge  her.     In  his  splendid  house  Maguirc  lay 
ill.    With  the  best  medical  skill  at  her  disposal,  the  wife, 
serene  and  confident,  would  have  none  of  it.     Mrs.  Le- 
Grue.  the  martvr,  was  attending  the  ailing  man,  and  as 
in  muUitudc  of  counsel  there  is  wisdom,  emment  pro- 
fessors of  the  cult  of  Christian  Sccnce  were  bcstowmg 
upon  him  the  benediction  of  absent  treatment,  from  P.os- 
ton.   Philadelphia.   Chicago  and   other   centres  of  light. 
They  sent  thought  waves  toward  him.  at  stated  hours, 
and   from   the  sprav   of   these   mental   breakers   the   m- 
valid  was  to  rise  refreshed.    The  palace  on  Fifth  Avenue 
was  the  Mecca  of  the  Christian  Scientists,  and  now  that 
the  strong  man  was  prone  none  other  was  allowed  to 
cross  its  threshold,  be  he  Tammany  or  whatever  elst. 
Yet  there  vas  one  exception.    Three  times  the  Mayor  ot 
New  Yor..  was  permitted  to  see  the  patient,  an<l  t'lat 
through  the  special  grace  of  Mrs.  Magu.re.  who  hked 
him,  and  knew  her  husband  liked  him.     At  each  suc- 
ceeding visit  Gradv  saw  that  Maguire  was  in  worse  state 
than  he  had  l>een'at  the  time  of  the  previous  call.     On 
each  occasion  Maguire  had  been  delighted  to  see  him, 
and  had  pressed  him  to  come  oftener.     He  lay  on  a 

549 


550 


The  Victors 


H  1 


couch  with  a  Httle  table  at  his  clhow.  on  which  wer« 
placed  a  bottle  of  whisky  and  a  box  of  stroii};^  cigars : 
two  stimulants  which  the  doctors  at  the  club  agreed 
should  be  kept  from  a  man  in  his  condition.  But  Mrs. 
Maguire  believed  that  absent  treatment  would  nullify 
any  evil  effects  of  present  indulgence  and  refused  to  bt 
influenced  by  the  unenlightened  advice  of  regular  practi- 
tioners suggested  to  her  by  the  anxious  John  Grady, 
The  hopeless  feature  <>f  the  case  was  that  Magpirc  him- 
self was  completely  under  the  gentle  influence  of  his 
wife  and  had  the  most  optimistic  belief  in  the  i  Itimate 
effect  of  her  ministrations.  He  was  all  right,  he  urged ; 
a  little  scant  of  breath,  perhaps,  and  rather  too  corpu- 
lent, but  a  few  weeks  at  Muldoon's  farm  v\  udd  remedy 
that  as  soon  as  he  was  on  his  legs  again.  A^  for  a  drop 
of  whisky,  the  stuff  never  hurt  anybody,  and  a  cigar 
was  a  comforter. 

On  the  conclusion  of  his  third  interview  Grady  was 
seriously  alarmed.  His  friend  was  visibly  failing,  as 
any  eye  mg'-it  see,  save  that  of  his  wife,  who  persisted  in 
her  evidently  sincere  belief  that  he  was  on  the  mend. 
She  herself  escorted  Grady  to  the  door.  In  the  ample 
hall,  which  had  witnessed  so  many  devout  gatherings  of 
the  Christian  Scientists,  he  expostulated  earnestly  with 
her  and  begged  her  to  allow  him  to  bring  Dr.  Marshall 
to  see  her  husband. 

Mrs.  Maguire  heard  him  with  the  lenient  patience 
with  which  one  listens  to  the  pleadings  of  a  favourite 
child  asking  for  something  it  may  not  nave. 

"  I  do  not  doubt,  Mr.  Grady,  that  Dr.  Marshall  is  a 
most  estimable  man,  and  at  another  time  or  for  any 
other  purpose  I  should  be  pleased  to  have  him  visit  us, 
but  I  cannot  allow  my  husband's  mind  to  be  disturbed 
by  the  malign  influence  of  a  discredited  school  at  the 
present  moment.  I  am  so  sorry  to  refuse  you  even  such 
a  trivial  request." 

"  It  is  not  a  trivial  request,  Mrs.  Maguire.  Your  hus- 
band is  a  dying  man.  It  isn't  his  mind  that  needs  at- 
tending to,  but  his  body.  Ac.  ording  to  your  own  belief. 
Dr.    Marshall   can    do   no   harm,    and   your   husband's 


"With  their  tongues  doom  men  to  death  "  551 


were 


friends,  myself  amon;;  tliv  nunilicr.  would  f«.el  very  much 
casit-r  if  they  knew  he  wa>  iti  oapablo  liands.  Tliuse 
absent  people  can  jjo  on  witii  their  i)ray,nj,'  just  the 
same." 

Mrs.  Majjuire  smiled  indulitjently  at  this,  as  if  it  were 
rather  a  poor  attempt  at  witticism. 

"  T  will  not  have  the  inllucnce  of  tliDse  ahsent  i)eople, 
as  you  call  them,  diluted  by  the  presence  of  a  symbol  of 
old   world   ig;norance   Ike   Dr.    Marshall." 

"Then  their  ministrations  cannot  be  very  potent  if 
the  whole  ajjfjrefjation  are  afraid  of  one  ret,ndar  ])liysi- 
cian.  The  doctor  has  no  such  fear;  he  is  willing:  to  come 
and  do  his  best  with  the  entire  Christian  Science  com- 
munity in  full  blast  a,c:a:nst  him.  " 

'"  Ah,  Mr.  Grady,  you  speak  flippantly,  but  I'm  sure 
you  don't  mean  half  what  you  say.  and  t  know  you  are 
a  g;ood  friend  of  Patsey's,  according  to  the  light  vouch- 
safed to  you." 

"  God  knows  I  would  do  anythinrr  for  him,  Mrs.  .Ma- 
guire,  and  I  want  to  see  every  means  tried  that  will  give 
him  a  chance.  ' 

"  I  know  that.  I  know  tliat.  and  1  assure  you  I  value 
your  friendship.  Mr.  (Irady,  and  your  sympathy.  So 
does  Patsey,  poor  boy.  and  it  won't  be  long  till  he's 
among  you  again." 

"  Well,  we  need  him  badly  enough,  for  there's  an  elec- 
tion coming  on,  presidential  at  tliat.  There  is  no  man 
who  can  steer  the  ship  like  Patrick  M,  i^mire,  and  the 
lotiger  he  is  on  his  back  the  worse  it  is  for  the  party.' 

Mrs.  Maguire  glowed  at  this  praise  of  her  husband. 
She  liked  to  think  of  him  as  indispensable  i  .  affairs  of 
state. 

"  I  am  always  willing  for  you  to  see  him  if  you  talk 
politics.  Mr.  Grady.  Xow  a  regular  physician  would 
probably  say  it  would  do  him  harm,  but  I  know  better." 

An  idea  occurred  to  the  Mayor. 

'  Would  you  let  him  talk  to  a  small  delegation  from 
the  club?  We  are  all  anxious  aboi'.t  the  sitnaticm  there 
— I  mean  the  polit'cal  sitiiation  of  course — and  a  few 
words  from  Maguire  will  do  us  a  lot  of  good.     The 


552 


The  Victors 


rank  and  file  would  obey  any  injunctions  that  tppv  kn 
came  direct  from  the  Boss,  which  they  woiildi.t  pav 
tcntion  to  if  uttered  by  S(jmc  one  else.  " 

"  I  liave  no  objecti(jn  at  all.  Let  nic  know  when  tl 
are  coming.     How  m    ly  would  theic  he?" 

"  N'ot  more  than  three  or  four ;  two  probably  besic 
myself  As  Mayor  of  the  city  I  snail  doubtless'be  ask 
to  hi.'ad  the  delegation." 

"Very  well.  Come  whenever  vou  phase.  And  no 
Mr.  Grady,  will  you  do  me  a  favour  in  return'  Here 
a  httle  volume,  small,  but  --iceless.  You  oan  easily  s' 
It  mto  your  pocket.  Read  it  oarerullv.  trying  to'  fr 
your  mmd  from  the  ancient  preconceived  notions  th 
still  have  such  a  hold  on  the  world.  When  you  ha 
finished  that  book,  if  a-ou  study  it  in  the  right  spirit,  v( 
will  be  less  anxious  in  mind  about  the  condition  of  "n 
husband." 

Grady  sighed  as  he  accepted  the  precious  volume 
graciously  presented  to  him  by  the  imperturbable  litt 
woman,  and  took  his  leave  with  foreboding  in  his  hcai 

Thus  the  plot  at  the  club  was  inaugurated.  Tl 
Mayor  proposed  that  Dr.  Marshall  and  a  speciali 
should  accompany  him  to  the  houso  of  Maguire,  ostei 
sibly  to  talk  politics,  actually  to  diagnose  the  case  ar 
devisj  means  for  the  patient's  betterment.  For  son 
time  medical  etiquette  stood  in  the  way.  The  pr.ict 
tioners  refused  to  enter  any  household' surreptitiousl 
without  the  sanction  of  the  inmates,  but  the  Mayor  urgt 
the  seriousness  of  the  case,  the  fact  that  both  'phy^icia 
and  specialist  were  persi,/.al  friends  of  the  sck  mar 
that  they  were  sure  of  his  sanction  at  last,  when  he  n 
covered,  and  much  more  to  the  same  efTect.  Nice  cu; 
toms,  courtesy  to  great  kings,  and  medical  etiqueti 
bowed  its  head  befo-e  the  supreme  necessity  of  savin 
the  Boss.  So  the  Mayor  was  enabled  to  notify  Mr: 
Maguire  that  on  a  stated  day  and  at  a  stated  hour  th 
political  delegation  woula  wait  upon  her  husband  t 
iearn  his  views  anent  the  situation,  city,  state  and  na 
tional. 

When  the  trio  arrived  at  the  house,  the  servant  wh 


iipy  knew 
t  pa>  at- 

^Iien  they 

y  beside? 
be  asked 

\.n(\  now, 
Here  's 
asily  slip 
r  to  free 
ions  that 
you  have 
pirit,  you 
>n  of  my 

ilumt,  so 
ble  little 
lis  heart. 

d.  The 
■specialist 

e,  osten- 
case  and 
or  some 
i  practi- 
titiously, 
or  urged 
)hy3ician 
:k  man ; 
n  he  re- 
lice  cus- 
etiquette 
F  saving 

fy  Mrs. 
lour  the 
band  to 
and  na- 

»nt  who 


"  With  their  tongues  doom  men  to  death  "  553 

admitted  them  said  that  Mr.  Maguirc  v.as  awaiting 
them,  and,  on  being  ushered  into  hi>  presj.ice.  the  Ma\or 
was  relieved  to  find  him  alone,  stretched,  as  usual,  on 
the  couch.  (Irady  had  dr'a-led  the  attendance  of  the 
wife,  and  was  pleased  to  i..)te  her  ab-ente.  The  ailing 
man  was  in  a  state  of  feverish  excitement,  lie  had 
bevn  wearying  (luerulously  for  then:  ci  untiiig  the  min- 
utes before  their  arrival,  impatiently  infpiirii'.g  why  they 
had  not  come,  and  now  the  effect  of  tlie  tiMsion  was 
visible  on  his  face,  audible  in  the  (|uick.  panting  breath 

"  Ah,  John,  its  you  at  last.  1  thought  you  were  never 
going  to  get  here.  Surely  you're  late.  Who  have  ye 
brought  along  with  you?  Hello,  doctor,  it's  you.  is  it? 
I  didn't  recognise  you  at  first,  and  is  that  Dr.  Watson 
behind  you?  Jiow  are  ye,  doctjr?  Two  doctors  and  a 
lawyer!  Fjegobs,  a  man  must  be  in  a  bad  state  when 
such  a  deputation  calls  on  him.  '  Make  your  will,'  says 
the  lawyer,  and  '  Die  double  quick,'  says  the  two  doc- 
tors.' 

All  this  was  boisterously  shouted,  Maguire  trying  to 
rise  on  his  elbow,  then  sinking  back  exhausted  on  the 
pillows.  His  enumeratior.  of  the  two  professions  and  his 
comments  thereon  seemed  to  thnnv  a  restraint  on  the 
company,  and  he  noticed  this  as  he  lay  there,  having 
given  up  the  effort  to  assume  a  sitting  posture. 

"  Ah,  well,  boys,  ye  mustn't  mind  me.  It's  only  me 
fun.  It's  a  poor  joke,  that's  all.  I've  the  greatest  re- 
spect for  learning,  as  John  here  knows,  having  had  lit- 
tle enough  of  it  mysen.  I'm  inighty  glad  to  see  you,  an' 
!:hat's  the  truth.  Sit  down  all  of  ye,  an'  tell  the  girl 
what  ye  want  to  drink.  I  think  we've  got  everything  in 
vhe  house  from  German  lager  made  in  St.  Looie  to 
Frinch  champagne  concocted  in  California,  so  if  ye  don't 
see  what  ye  want,  as'-  for  it,  a.''  the  placards  in  the 
groceries  say." 

The  two  physicians  drew  'ip  chairs,  but  Grady  re- 
mained on  his  feet,  for  at  the  first  menti-m  of  the  word 
"  doctor  ■'  there  was  a  scarcely  perceptible  shaking  of 
the  curtains  which  divided  that  room  from  the  next, 
3nd  as  Maguire  finished  the   curtains   parted   and   re- 


554 


Tiie  Victors 


vealed,  standing  in  their  folds,  a  placid-faced,  white- 
haired  little  woman,  calm  and  collected,  a  gentle  smile 
on  her  lips  but  reproach  in  the  eyes  Tvcd  on  Jolm  Grady, 
who  stood  uneasily  under  their  scruiiny.  Lottie  Ma- 
guire  came  forward,  silent  footed,  and  stood  at  the  head 
of  the  couch  without  a  word.  Ik-r  hushaml's  Uu^.-  rigiit 
hand  was  fumbling  aimlessly  among  the  pillows,  and 
the  woman  placed  her  dainty  white  palm  on  his.  Then 
over  ll.v  ..ttle  hand  and  engulfing  it  instantly  closed  the 
great  fist.  The  touch  seemed  to'  permeate  him  with  her 
own  restfulness  She  siutjothed  out  his  shaggy  mane, 
long  undipped.  The  ailing  man  bent  back  his  massive 
head  and  looked  up  at  his  wife,  peace  and  contentment 
coming  into  his  eyes  as  they  lingered  affectionately  upon 

Before  this  tableau  of  mutual  love  and  trustfulness  sat 
three  men  of  learning  and  resource,  baffled,  without  a 
word  spoken,  and  knowing  they  were  baffled. 

"  Ah.  Lottie,  dear,  I'm  glad  vou've  come.  Dr.  Mar- 
shall, this  is  my  wife.     Dr.  Watson.  Mrs.  Maguire." 

The  lady  bowed  serenely  to  the  gentlemen. 

"  John  Grady  you  know  as  well  as  I  do.' 

"  Yes,  I  know  Mr.  Grady,"  she  said  softly  in  accents 
sweet  and  tender,  but  with  a  significance  entirely  missed 
by  her  hu.sband  which  nevertheless  made  the  highest 
official  of  the  city  quail  before  her.  He  stood  i  con- 
victed traitor,  yet  conscious  of  loyahy  to  his  dearest 
friend,  which  knowledge  somehow  failed  .o  solace  him. 

"  Well,  boys,  how  about  politics?  Ls  everything  com- 
ing our  way,  or  are  we  going  to  he  snowed  under?  Dr. 
Marshall,  when  did  you  begin  to  take  such  an  interest  m 
elections  that  you  leave  your  work  to  come  on  a  delega- 
tion? Troth.  I  never  knew  you  to  do  that  before. 
You're  improving,  begobs.  I  always  looked  on  ye  as  a 
kind  of  Tammany  mugwump.  Ye  remember  what  a 
hill  of  a  fuss  ye  made  about  that  man  the  police  clubbed  ? 
Well,  thunder  and  turf,  ye  patched  him  up  all  right 
enough,  an  he's  as  well  to-day  as  ever  he  was.  That's 
one  for  you.  It's  increased  your  reputation  wonder- 
fully, so  you  should  be  thankful  for  the  chance  yc  got 


L_ 


"  With  their  tongues  doom  men  -to  death  ' 

but  I  felt  as  badly  about  tliat  clubbing  as  an.  one.  ex- 
cept the  boys  that  did  it,  an'  tluy'rc  sorrv  in  ^;a()l."  ' 

"  I  never  blamed  you.  M  -.  Ma'guirc. "  replied  Dr.  Mar- 
shall, mopping  his  Srow. 

■'  Tatrick."  said  the  Mayor,  boldly  ciittinsf  in  now  that 
he  had  lost  all  the  lady's  respect,  and  things  c  tldnt  in- 
worse — "  Patrick,  as  we  arc  to  talk  politics.  I  think  it 
would  be  better  to  talk  it  alone.  I'.csides.  it  is  of  little 
interest  to  a  laily.' 

Mrs.  Maguire  ai)preciatc(l  thi-  cunnin  move,  smiled, 
stroked  her  husband's   hand  an<I  said  iiothin^j. 

"  Is  it  L<:>ttie  yc  mean  ?  Sure.  John,  she'ii  as  nuich  in- 
terested in  politics  as  I  am." 

"  You've  told  me  yourself  T'at.  a  dc^zcn  times,  not 
to  talk  politics  before  Mrs.  ^la^ui^e.'■ 

He  was  staking"  the  friendship  of  the  I'oss  on  this 
reckless  throw,  and  he  knew  it.  Sudden  fear  spranjj 
into  the  eyes  of  the  invalid;  a  reminiscence  (>f  something 
not  quite  grasped  by  a  strong  mind  weakened  through 
long  illness,  yet  intangibly,  evasivel'-  recognised  as  ex- 
isting. What  was  the  flittering  boja:y?  What  was  it  he 
did  not  want  his  wife  to  know?  There  was  something, 
but  it  had  slipped  his  memory  and  now  eluded  search, 
yet  the  fingers  of  rei  -embrance  almost  grasped  its  ever- 
vanishing  skirts.  The  Boss  was  agonisedly  disturbed. 
He  struggled  to  sit  up.  breathing  painfully,  drops  of  per- 
spiration standing  on  his  brow.  His  wife  bent  over  hiin, 
tenderly  touching  her  lips  to  his.  The  fevered  man  re- 
lapsed on  his  pillow  as  if  the  brief  contact  were  magic. 
A  dpep  sigh  escaped  him,  and  liis  breathing  became 
more  regular.     The  bogy  had  been  conjured  away. 

"  Why,  John,  what  nonsense  ye're  talking,"  he  gasped. 
"I  never  said  such  a  thing,  an'  ye  know  it.  He's  just 
trying  to  get  a  rise  out  of  us.  Lottie.  He  thinks  that's  a 
joke." 

The  woman  lifted  her  head  proudly,  a  glint  of  anger 
in  the  glance  she  now  bent  on  John  Grady.  Her  eyes 
said  to  him  as  plainly  as  words : 

"  Try  your  next  trick,  forsworn  man,  perfidious  friend, 
and  see  who  will  be  victor." 


556 


The  Victors 


i  i 


But  Grady  at  last  recognised  defeat. 

"  I  think  we  may  as  well  go,''  he  said. 

"  No,  no,"  cried  the  Boss  anxiously.  "  Whv,  \v< 
haven't  begun  talking  yet.  Watson  hasn't  opened  hij 
mouth  s'nce  he  came  in,  except  to  take  a  sip  of  liqtor 
John,  here,  is  gabbing  so  much  nobotly  else  gets  s 
chance,  but  that  was  always  liis  way.  You  mustn't  mine 
him." 

The  three  were  now  standing  up. 

"  Don't  let  them  go,  Lottie,  dear.  You  know  how 
much  I  wanted  to  see  them." 

The  lady  was  all  graciousness. 

"  I  beg  you  to  be  seated  again,  gentlemen.  It  is  in- 
deed true  that  both  my  husband  and  myself  have  looker 
forward  with  ;  pleasure  to  this  visit,  and  although  you  an 
all  busy  men,  yet  I  know  you  will  not  refuse  my  re- 
quest." 

The  three  sat  down  helplessly,  as  if  mesmerised  by  hei 
kindly  smile,  won  over  by  her  honeyed  words. 

"  Ah,  Lottie,  it's  you  that's  the  persuasive  angel,  th( 
right  bower  with  no  joker  in  the  pack.  You  take  everj 
trick,  my  dear.'' 

"  That  is  truer  than  he  imagines,"  murmured  Gradj 
to  himself. 

"  Now.  as  I  was  saying.  Doctor,  when  John,  here,  in 
terrupted  me,  about  that  man  Monro;  ye  see,  I  knev 
him  in  the  old  days  out  West,  and  I  was  mighty  sorn 
when  they  tried  to  massacre  him,  but  I  can  understand  i 
easily  enough.  He  has  a  high  and  lordlv  way  with  him 
an'  a  policeman,  as  they  build  'em  nowadays,  is  no 
going  to  stand  that.  A  policeman  reasons  as  naturall} 
with  his  club  as  John  there  with  his  tongue.  The} 
train  a  college  man's  tongue,  but  it's  the  policeman'; 
right  arm  they  develop  in  his  school.  So  the  outcome'; 
conceivable,  though  ye  can't  get  a  mugfwump  to  under 
stand  it.  An'  now,  boys,  right  in  this  same  line  lies  t 
great  lesson  for  poHticians.  Never  condescend.  Do  y( 
see  what  I  mean?  What's  this  the  good  book  says- 
truth  to  tel!  I'm  not  as  well  up  in  it  as  in  the  daily  papers 
—but  I  knpw  the  run  of  it,  m'  it  will  pay  any  man  tc 


immtit 


we 


"  With  their  tongues  doom  men  to  death  "  557 

get  a  kindly  priest  to  explain  it  to  him,  an'  then  act  on 
it,  as  I've  always  done.  Except  ye  become  like  one  of 
these,  why  ye  don't  cut  any  ice  at  all,  an'  that's  the  gist 
of  it.  If  I'm  popular  with  the  boys,  it's  because  I'm  one 
of  them,  an'  they  know  it.  1  mcei  no  man  so  poor  but 
I've  been  poorer  meself,  an'  none  are  in  trouble  deeper 
than  I've  been  in.  years  agone.  I  m  not  like  a  schnail. 
I  don't  carry  me  fine  house  on  me  back  when  I  go  down 
to  the  slums.  I  may  be  Mr.  M.-iguire  on  Fifth  Avenue, 
but  I'm  plain  Pat  down  in  the  i'.owery.  I  say,  Doctor,  do 
ye  remember  that  poor  little  divii  that  was  mangled  by  a 
cable  car  two  years  ago,  when  he  cut  across  the  thrack 
wid  a  bundle  of  papers  under  his  arm  ?  That  was  a  finer 
job  than  Monro's,  even,  for  there  was  hardly  enough  of 
the  unfortunate  beggar  left  to  splice  together  again,  an' 
ye  did  what  ye  could  because  I  asked  you  to,  an' 
wouldn't  take  a  cent.  Well,  the  other  day  that  poor 
creature  comes  thumping  up  the  avenue  on  his  crutch, 
an'  rings  at  the  front  door.  He  hands  to  the  servant  girl 
a  bit  of  a  bunch  of  flowers  that  he  had  squandered  his 
miserable  few  pennies  for,  an'  says,  '  Give  'em  to  de 
Boss,  an'  tell  him  we's  all  sorry  he's  oflf  his  nut,  an' 
hopes  he'll — an'  hopes — he'll  soon  be — on  his  feet  again." 

Maguire  buried  his  face  in  the  yielding  pillows,  his 
wife  with  flooded  eyes  tenderly  soothing  his  hair,  and  for 
some  moments  there  was  a  painful  silence.  The  sick 
man  recovered  his  calmness  with  an  effort. 

"Be  God!  gentlemen,  I'd  sooner  have  that  bunch  of 
flowers  than  if  me  neighbour,  Vanderbilt,  came  t'  see  me 
wid  ten  thousand  dollars  in  his  fist;  an'  I'll  look  up  that 
kid  the  moment  I'm  out  again.  Ah.  well  we're  all 
tarred  with  the  same  brush,  an'  a  little  kindness  don't 
hurt  any  man,  whether  he's  rich  or  poor.  But  this  has 
nothing  to  do  with  politics.  I  can't  get  a  word  in  edge- 
ways because  Grady's  so  anxious  to  hear  himself  talk. 
But  don't  you  be  worried  about  the  election.  That'll  be 
all  right  It's  dead  easy.  All  ye  have  to  do  is  to  play 
with  the  conscientious  man.  He  wants  to  vote  with  his 
party,  so  give  him  the  chance.  Between  t!:e  conscien- 
tious republican  an'  the  conscientious  democrat,  splitting 


558 


The  Victors 


the  conscientious  vote,  we  get  in  our  own  gossoon  who's 
got  some  sense  in  the  matter  of  government,  an'  every- 
thing's all  right.  That's  the  whole  secret  of  New  York 
politics.  Elect  a  Democrat  President,  if  it's  no  extra 
trouble,  but  sell  hm  at  a  pinch  if  they'll  hand  over  the 
city  in  return.  The  same  with  the  Governor  of  the 
state,  although  he's  more  important  to  us  than  a  dozen 
presidents.  The  great  thing's  the  city.  Tell  the  boys  not 
to  forget  that.  An'  now,  gentlemen,  I'm  feeling  a  Tttle 
done  up.  I've  enjoyed  all  ye've  said,  an'  I  want  ye  to 
come  again,  an'  come  often,  an'  bring  as  many  as  ye  can 
with  ye,  for  I  like  to  see  them,  an'  their  talk  does  me 
good.  I'll  be  down  at  the  club  next  week,  or  the  week 
after.  Good-bye,  an'  I  tnank  ye  from  the  bottom  of 
me  heart  for  remembering  a  poor  soul  on  his  back. 
Give  my  love  'to  the  gang." 

As  Grady  passed  out  he  saw  a  picture  that  remained 
long  in  his  ntind ;  Maguire  prone  with  closed  eyes,  in  a 
state  of  exhaustion,  and  his  wife  bending  over  him,  her 
cheek  resting  against  his.  .       ,  u 

There  was  consultation  after  consultation  at  the  club, 
but  all  futile.   For  once  Tammany  was  checkmated. 

A  week  after  the  visit  of  the  outwitted  delegation  the 
Mayor  was  coming  down  the  steps  of  the  city  hall  to  the 
carriage  that  awaited  him.  From  the  newspaper  offices 
poured  diverging  streams  of  newsboys,  as  if  a  shrapnel 
shell  bad  burst,  scattering  ragged  urchins  bearing  flut- 
tering sheets  of  evening  papers.  The  cry  that  went  up 
brought  the  Mayor  to  a  sudden  stoppage. 

"  Death  of  the  Boss!  All  about  the  death  of  Magutre! 
Boss  o'  New  York  dead!" 

Grady  snatched  a  paper  from  the  first  comer  and 
threw  the  boy  a  quarter.  The  front  page  was  mostly  bill- 
board headlines,  with  a  huge  rough  picture  of  Maguire. 
Only  one  paragraph  contained  real  news,  the  rest  was 
biography,  flung  in  at  the  last  moment,  ready  prepared. 

'Patrick  Maguire,  Boss  of  New  York,  died  to-day  at 
I  35  in  his  residence  on  Fifth  Avenue.  As  our  readers 
are  aware,  Mr.  Maguire  had  been  ill  for  some  weeks. 

"Drive  up  Fifth  Avenue;  Maguire's.  As  quick  as 
you  can,"  said  Grady  to  his  coachman. 


"  With  their  tongues  doom  men  to  death  "  559 

In  front  of  the  house  the  Mayor  saw  a  squad  of  police, 
with  a  crowd  of  young  men  ineffectually  trying  persua- 
sion to  get  through  the  cordon  to  the  door.  The  ser- 
geant recognised  the  official  and  stepped  forward,  sa- 
luting. 

"  Is  it  true  that  Maguire  is  dead?" 

"  No,  Mr.  Grady.  It's  just  them  lying  papers.  Mrs. 
Maguire  telephoned  to  headquarters  and  said  her  hus- 
hand  was  pestered  by  the  reporters,  so  he  sent  up  a 
squad.' 

"That's  right.     Have  you  seen  Mrs.  Maguire? 

"  Yes,  sir ;  only  a  few  minutes  ago.  She  told  me  her 
husband  was  better  instead  of  worse,  and  she's  quite 
cheerful  about  him;  if  all  this  fuss  don't  hurt  him.  Will 
you  go  in,  Mr.  Grady?' 

"  I  think  I  will." 

Mrs.  Maguire  h^^rself  opened  the  door  and  greeted 
him  pleasantly. 

"  I  saw  it  was  you,"  she  said,  smiling,  "  and  so  I  came 
down  myself,  thinking  you  were  not  going  to  come  in. 
Of  course,  it  is  only  the'.reporters  I  want  to  keep  away." 

"It  is  good  of  you  to  receive  me.  Mrs.  Maguire. 
There   was   a   rumour   down   town   that    Patrick— was 

worse" 

"  Oh,  yes ;  I  heard  of  it.  They  said  he  was  dead.  Ab- 
surd !    Won't  you  come  in  and  see  him?  "  ^^ 

"  If  I  may.     You  think  it  wouldn't  trouble  him? 

"  Oh,  no.     He  will  be  pleased." 

"  You  are  very  kind." 

She  closed  the  door  and  led  the  way  to  the  stairs, 
humming  a  tune  as  she  preceded  him  lightly  up  the 
steps.  Maguire  was  not  on  the  couch  where  Grady  had 
last  seen  him.  and  his  wife  held  aside  the  curtams  of  the 
next  room,  saying: 

"  He  is  in  here." 

She  went  to  the  bed  and  flung  back  the  sheet. 

"O  my  God,  mv  God!"  cried  Grady,  staggermg 
against  the  wall.  There  confronted  him  the  closed-eyed 
smiling  face  of  the  dead,  and  the  open-eyed  smilmg  face 
of  the  living. 


All  grossness  had  departed  from  the  still  features  of 
Maguire,  as  if  the  purging  fires  he  half  believed  in  dur- 
ing life  had  already  consumed  his  defects,  leaving  only 
the  broad  white  brow,  the  masterful  nose,  the  firmly 
moulded  chin,  the  large  kindly  mouth.  The  hair, 
brushed  back  and  flowing  on  the  pillow,  gave  a  leonine 
appearance  to  the  strong  face  and  massive  head ;  a  clas- 
sic bust  chiselled  in  marble  by  that  chief  of  sculptors. 
Death. 

Grady  turned  his  face  to  the  wall  and  sobbed  like  a 
child.  He  possessed,  to  comfort  him,  no  theory  that 
death  was  a  sham.  That  silent  white  mask  proclaimed 
it  terribly  real,  and  no  thought-wave  from  Boston  could 
obliterate  the  actuality. 

The  abandon  of  grief  in  a  grown  man  seemed  to  afTect 
the  little  woman  against  her  stubborn  purpose.  The 
smile  became  fixed ;  difficult  to  maintain.  A  glance  from 
the  emotional  living  U.  the  impassive  dead  made  her 
tremble  and  then  give  way.  She  sank  on  the  bed  beside 
her  husband. 

"  O,  Patsey,  Patsey,"  she  moaned,  her  cry,  the  forlorn 
wail  of  a  broken-hearted  woman.  But  the  grim  creed 
ultimately  triumphed.  Presently  she  gathered  herself  up 
and  confronted  the  man  who  had  turned  to  her.  Waver- 
ingly  she  replaced  the  broken  smile  and  gazed  at  him 
through  dewy  eyes. 

"  You  mustn't  think,  Mr.  Grady,"  she  gasped,  "  that 
this  momentary  failure — is — anything — against  my — my 
belief.  No.  no.  That  is  eternally  true,  though  human 
resolve  is  weak.  My — my  nerves  are  unstrung — that's 
all.  I've  been  watching  night  and  day — and  am  worn 
out.  My  dear  husband  is  with  me  now — as  he  has  been 
— as  he  always  will  be." 


CHAPTER   XI 


"from  cupid's  shoulder" 


When  James  Monro  was  well  cnouph  to  resume  his 
position  in  the  office,  McAlHstcr  annouticcrl  that  he  must 
be  off  again  (Hke  Flannigan,  he  added),  but  this  time 
he  would  take  Jim's  advice,  stay  in  one  place,  rest  and 
get  acquainted  with  his  wife.  Upon  this  plan  Monro 
bestowed  his  approval. 

"  Now,  Connie,"'  cried  McAllister  on  reaching  the 
hotel,  "  Jim's  in  charge  again,  thank  goodness,  and 
I'm  free.  I  propose  we  go  oflf  and  supplement  that  ten 
minutes." 

"What  ten  minutes?" 

"Don't  you  remember?  At  Niagara  Falls,  of  course. 
We're  going  to  stay  there  in  the  biggest  suite  of  rooms 
in  the  biggest  tavern  the  town  possesses,  and  hang  the 
expense.  Yes,  by  smoke,  we'll  go  it,  and  hire  a  cab  now 
and  then.    Sixth  Avenue  is  making  lots  of  money." 

"  My  dear  Ben,  you  mustn't  think  I  want  you  to  desert 
all  your  duties  and  simply  play  comrade  to  me.  I  hope 
you  don't  imagine — '' 

"  Look  here,  Con,  no  nonsense.  Pack  up  and  don't 
give  your  husband  any  back  chat.  You're  too  much  ab- 
sorbed in  business  anyhow,  and  should  take  a  rest  every 
once  in  a  while.  We're  going  to  Niagara  Falls  to  pick 
up  the  remnants  of  a  lost  honeymoon — unless  you  would 
rather  go  somewhere  else.'" 

"  I   am  more  than  content  with  Niagara." 

"  Then  that  settles  it.     Get  ready." 

So  in  due  time  they  fov.id  themselves  'p\   the  great 
cataract,  with  nothing  to  do  but  enjoy  each  day  as  it 
came,  Ben  developing  into  the  most  assiduous  courtier 
that  could  be  desired  by  the  most  exacting  woman. 
36  S6i 


.  ki 


H 


562 


The  Victors 


V.n°v!!""  T^'  "'"'^''  interested  in  hearing  of  Grac 
11   .•       ^       ^"''^  °''  ^"^"^^  questioned  Ben  about  her 

r^the'pTevtrofcasir ''"^  ''  '''   ^°^^°"-  ^°  ^^> 
boih^n^'theXT""^^  ^'"   '^'°^^  ^'^^  ^^"^^  -  y- 

not  ?'' H^'i' ^T'  ^'';.  ''  "^^^  J'*"  ^'^°  "^"^^  ^^'  fi'-st 
nil  dnn'.T   '^^'•.•"  ^lontreal.  down  in  North  Carolina 

•Mu     ,.  .^"""^  '"  ^°^  "lany  other  places." 
all  nL'-       "  ' ''°"  ''"  """  '^"^  ^"^^'■^-    I  understand  it 

"  Understand  what  ? " 

"  The  ^  whole  situation." 

Die'  Zott  ''iT  '°  understand?    The  situation  is  sim- 

ri^xiriout  it^  '"  "°"^^  '"  ^^^  «^'"'  -^  -  -- 

mpn^h''/°"''^-u  ^J'^.'^'  *^'"^^^^"  t°  «hoot  those  police- 
men because  she  had  money  in  the  firm?  " 

t.r.?  '         •  ,  ^''-    ^^^^  ^^^  because  she  takes  great  in- 

ttt^-rof  cTur-^^"^-     "-  ^^^^-  '«  ^  --ber  of 

Jim?^^^  ^^"'  '^°"'*  ^°"  '^^  ^^^  ^''^  ''  ^^^d  »n  love  with 
"  Nonsense,  Con.     I'm  amazed  at  you.     That  shows 

Mi^sTan'T.r  "'r/°  J"^*[^^  *°  '^'^  *>^her's  motives. 
Miss  Van  Ness  said  to  me  that  women  had  no  votes- 
hat  men  were  responsible  for  the  bad  governm  nt  of 
he  city,  and  that  it  needed  a  woman  to  make  T  strike 
woman'''"'  '^''  '^''  ''"*"'  °^  ^'^'''y  ^"  ^^e  harbour  Is  a 
"And  you  believed  her?" 
''  Certainly.    It  is  a  woman.    I've  seen  it." 
1  m  not  talking  of  the  statue,  but  of  Grace  Van  Ness 
to  rZrr.'^  vS'^' cu^"^  ''°'"^"  ^°"'^  threaten  murder 
whaf  sr^a^d- done  '  ""  ^™^'"  '^^''"^  ^°"  ^  *°  ^^ 


i  J 


'*  From  Cupid's  shoulder  " 


563 


How  do  you  know?  It  would  be  just  like  the  stupid 
men  historians  10  omit  that  fact,  thinking  it  trivi?!  not 
worth  mentioning,  whereas  it  would  be  tl  o  kcvnote  of 
the  whole  affair." 

*'  That's  so.     I  hadn't  thought  of  thai." 

"Does  Jim  visit  her?  " 

"Who?    Joan  of  Arc?" 

"  Ben,  stop  your  fooling.  I'm  interested  in  those  two 
and  I  want  you  to  help  mc." 

"  All  right,  Connie.  I  don't  think  he  does  visit  her 
but  1  m  not  sure  about  it.  Jim  told  me  once  he  d dn't 
care  anything  for  her." 

I'  Oh,  that  settles  it.    Had  vou  asked  him  ?  " 

"Yes;  the  day  she  was  in  "the  office." 

Again  Constance  laughed  till  the  tears  came. 

"Ben,  you  will  write  to  Jim  at  once,  and  you  must 
show  me  the  letter  before  it  is  sent.  Tell  him  that  vou 
were  so  busy  you  forgot  to  thank  Miss  Van  Ness  for  all 
she  had  done  during  tl  .  crisis,  so  he  must  call  on  her  im- 
mediately and  convey  the  gratitude  of  the  firm  in  the 
best  language  he  can  command.  Jim  is  the  most  bash- 
ful, self-depreciating  fellow  on  earth,  but  after  delivering 
hifn  into  her  hands,  if  she  isn't  clever  enough  to  do  the 
rest  she  deserves  to  lose  him." 

"  Lose  him !  Jim's  a  good  fellow,  but  the  loss  will  be 
his  rather  than  hers." 

"  That  is  a  man's  view.  You  write  the  letter." 
Thus  it  came  about  that  James  Monro  in  the  seclusion 
of  his  clu>>  strove  to  compose  an  epistle  to  a  young  lady 
because  he  had  received  a  mandate  from  his  chief,  yet 
glad  of  the  excuse,  which,  if  McAllister  thought  valid, 
would  be  valid.     Finally  the  note  took  this  shape: 

"  Dear  Miss  Van  Ness— 

"  I  should  like  permission  to  call  on  vou  that  I  may  con- 
vey the  thanks  of  Mr.  McAllister  aiid  myself  for  your 
great  kindness  during  my  recent  illness  and  the  crisis 
which  threatened  to  overtai-c  our  firm.  In  a  letter  to  me, 
Mr.  McAllister  says  that  but  for  your  advice  and  en- 
couragement he  would  not  have  had  the  heart  to  face 
the  difficulties  he  encountered. 


564 


The  Victors 


"On  one  nccasiwi  my  own  advice  was  not  well  receive 
but  time  has  proven  tliat  I  was  entirely  in  the  wron 
Mav  I  hope  tliat  you.  who  have  been  so  successful  whei 
I  failed,  will  be  magnanimuus  and  forgive? 

"  Yours  gratefully, 

"James  Monro." 

In  prompt  reply  to  this  the  voung  man  received  ; 
dainty  card,  which  he  ever  afterward  treasured: 

"  Di:ar  Mu.  Monro — 

"  I  shall  be  delighted  to  have  vou  come  an(.  take  tej 
with  me  after  the  English  fashion,  at  4.30  to-morrow 
(Ihursday).  I  shall  bestow  upon  you  tea  and  forgive 
ness  in  the  sartie  room  as  that  in  which  your  advice  wa' 
so  churlishly  repelled  by 

"  Your  repentant  friend, 

"  Grace  Van  Ness." 

T*  will  be  seen  from  this  that  Mrs.  McAllister  was 
quite  correct  in  her  surmise  that  if  one  woman  deliv- 
ered the  goods  another  could  be  trusted  to  take  care  oi 
them — if  she  wanted  them.  , 

The  cordial  nature  of  the  missive  sent  a  thrill  of  hap- 
p  ness  through  the  reader.  That  she  should  sign  her- 
self his  friend  gave  promise  of  a  dearer  title,  as  he 
fondly  hoped,  a  result  to  be  achieved  after  lone  waiting 
on  his  part  in  the  years  to  come,  and  much  diplomacy 
during  those  years. 

The  room  in  the  Van  Ness  house  to  which  he  was 
admitted  seemed  much  the  same  as  when  he  last  (as  he 
thought)  visited  it— the  actual  last  visit  was  not  real,  but 
part  of  his  dreams,  more  elusive  even  than  the  phantasy 
of  delirium.  But  his  hostess  was  not  the  cold  beauty  he 
had  left  enthroned  there;  she  was  now  all  vivacity  and 
charm,  sparkling  and  friendly,  solicitous  of  his  ease. 

"  Not  that  chair!  "  she  cried,  "  this  one.  That  is  high- 
backed,  wooden  and  colonial.  I  don't  know  whether  to 
put  it  out  of  the  room  or  leave  it  here.  It  fascinates  me. 
and  sometimes  sends  a  little  shiver  through  me." 


From  Cupids  shoulder" 


505 


ori'I." 
quite  sure  of 


He  lookeu  with  interest  at  the  <Iiscanlo<l  chair 
^^  You  speak  of  It  as  if  it  caine  fr,..u  a  h.umte.l  hou^e  " 
Worse  than  that ;  it  is  haunted  uself.    A  ^^1,^,1  sat  in 
It.  and  now  I  see  tiie  ^host  when  it  is  n..t  there     Ulan 
I  am  alone  in  the  dusk  the  chair  startles  nie." 
Is  there  a  story  connected  with  it  ?  " 
"  Oh.  yes.  though  not  a  gliust  storv  as  v.ni  miLdit  sun- 

Monro  "••  '       '  ''"'^-     ^^°  '^"^^  '"^^'  ^''''  ^'^^'^^'  ^^'^ 

;;  I-I  don't  know.  I  haven't  much  time  t,.r  readimj.- 
.  1  11  tell  you  this  one  some  dav  or  rather  some  evTn- 
mg  when  the  shadows  gather,  hefore  the  iiglus  are  lit 
and  u  you  do  not  at  least  pretei.d  to  be  very  much  in- 
terested m  this  love  story  I'll  never  tell  vou  another  To 
'"  w  3^J^  J  I  7?°''*  absorbing  story  in  the  w 
Uh  1  shall  be  mterested;  you  mav  be  en 
that.    Wont  you  let  me  hear  it  now>'" 

'  No.    It  reqiiires  the  twilight.    And  the  night  should 
^^,:^^r'  ^-^^  St'"'  with  only  the  fountain  tinkling."' 

^^  Ihen  It  must  be  told  in  this  room? " 

^^  Of  course,  and  we  need  the  presence  of  the  chair  " 

..  Lu    ,1*^^''^  "°^  whether  the  story  is  good  or  bad." 
VV  ny  ? 

''  Because  I  know  I  am  to  come  here  again." 
"  I  hope  so.    How  do  you  take  your  tea— cream  and 
sugar? 

"  If  you  please." 

"  I'll  never  need  to  ask  that  question  aga-n.  I'll  re- 
member." 

She  laughed  in  a  quiet  way  to  see  his  growintr  em- 
barrassment. 

In  truth  the  young  man  was  confronted  with  a  social 
problem  which  he  could  not  solve.  What  is  expected  of 
a  visitor  who  has  discovered  a  glaring  defect  in  the 
costume  of  a  charming  hostess  ?  Should  he  call  her  at- 
tention to  it  and  thus,  perhaps,  cover  her  with  confusion, 
or  should  he  remain  silent  and  allow  chagrin  to  be  his 
follower  ? 

Monro  found  himself  in  a  (juandary.  Grace  Van  Xess 
wa$  dressed  exquisitely.     She  had  evidently  prepared 


( 


566 


The  Victors 


herself  with  thought  and  taste   for  his  comintr,  but 

but   by   some   mischance   her   sleeve   was   torn     layi 

bare  the  white  shoulder  and  part  of  the  rounded  ar 

and    here   she    was    chattinR:   and    lauKhinK^    quite   c 

hvious    to    the    disaster.      As    she    inovcd    so    ijra, 

fully  about  the  room,  this  perfect  shoulder  occasiona 

Rleanied  at  him.  and  he  caught  his  breath  like  a  vota 

who  has  a  glimpse  of  the  forbidden  shrine.    P.ut  adespt 

ate  courage  came  to  him.     If  he  spoke  not  now  s 

might  never  permit  him  to  set  foot  over  her  thresho 

again,  so  humiliated  would  she  be  whei    she  discover 

this  disarray,  knowing  she  had  laughed  and  talked  wi 

him,  he  witnessing;  whereas  if  he  spoke  at  once  at 

she  took  offence  he  was  within  the  stronghold  to  bi 

forgiveness. 

,  "  O— Miss  Van  Ness— you  will  pardon  me— but  yoi 
dress  is  torn— there,  at  the  shoulder." 

She  was  standing,  and  when  he  spoke  turned  her  hes 
to  look  at  the  rent,  her  clear-cut  exquisite  profile  etche 
against  the  window,  reminding  him  in  her  attitude  of 
marble  he  had  seen  of  a  girl  glancing  thus  ?t  a  butterfl 
that  had  aligb  ed  on  her  arm. 

"So  it  is,"  she  said  brightly,  without  the  slighte' 
trace  of  en^barrassment  in  her  tone;  he  thanked  his  sts 
for  that,  and  breathed  again.  "Well,  I  think  whoeve 
(lid  the  damage  should  mend  it;  don't  you?" 

She  was  rose-tinted  as  she  faced  him  bravely. 

"It— It  probably  caught  on  some  nail,"  he  venturec 

I  see  that  I  am  bewildering  you.  That  comes  from  m 

hking  for  the  story  I  mentioned.     But  let  us  get  dowi 

to  practical  things.     Here  is  a  pin.     You  see  I  canno 

reach  the  rent.     Will  you  oblige  me  ?  " 

He  rose  and  came  to  her,  attempting  the  task  set  t< 
him,  his  fingers  trembling  as  they  touched  the  firn 
shoulder. 

"  Be  careful  I ''  she  warned  him,  as  breathless  as  him 
self. 

"  Lord !  I  have  need,"  he  cried,  whereat  she  whiskec 
herself  free  and  retreated,  leaving  him  standing  there  hi< 
eyes  aglow.    "  You  pretend  not  to  know  where  responsi- 


"  ^'roni  Cupid's  shoulder  "  567 

bility   rests.     Those  hands   so  clumsv  at   r..n:..r. 
swift  to  reduce  mc  to  raRs."  ^  'P^'"   "^""^ 

He  stared  at  her,  unable  to  «;nrnL-     tu  ■ 
that  roon,  were  now  reverL^^'^^^^t I.  in^  '??''"":  ? 
as  on  the  previous  occasion  she  hSd     "fu^  t  I  r^"'^'' 
,       1   put  on  tins  torn   sleeve  nuruosflv      I   ?    y     . 

^^  You  were  sane,  it  seemed  to  me  " 

,,  Into  this  rc«,m?    Then-it  was  not  all  a  dream'" 

J^ot  unless-wak.nK-you  wish  it  so" 

"  Vnn  ^  ^^i  ^'"/l.-'    ^y '^»-^v>>at  die!  I  say  ?  " 

"  H   l'^"        ''•  .''"'''^  ''**  >■""  ^''•"'^-  you  said?  •• 
J.f  they  battel  cd  me  until  but  a  remnant  of  thouLrht 

LTir'jK'f  '■"'^"""^  ''■''  fi"^''  ^vith  vou  If  m  heart 
std  throbbed  you  owned  every  pulsebeat.  If  enS 
of  hfe  were  left  me  to  crawl  t<,  tour  feet  and  breathe 

That's  what  you  said— Jim." 
Then  he  did  e.xactly  what  he  had  done  before-  kissed 
her  ou  the  l.ps  and  on  tiie  bare  rounded  shoulder 


THE  ENa 


